Alberta's Seven Board Chairs on FCM Filled

The upcoming annual conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is set to take place in Toronto from May 25th to May 28th.

During the three-day event, a new board will be elected to guide the organization through the coming year, with each province selecting board members to represent their municipalities.

This election holds the promise of shaping the future of municipal governance and ensuring diverse voices from across the provinces are heard at the federal level. In Alberta, the municipal landscape on the FCM Board is expected to resemble the previous year, as all seven seats representing the province have no challengers.

However, Alberta will witness the addition of one fresh face to the federal board. Councillor Neal Comeau, from Sturgeon County, is poised to represent the rural areas of Alberta on the FCM board, bringing his expertise and understanding of the unique challenges faced by these communities.

In terms of urban representation, Councillor Katie Berghofer from Strathcona County and Mayor Mike Yargeau from the Town of Penhold have both been acclaimed as the urban representatives for Alberta on the FCM board. They will continue to serve in their current positions.

Among the seven board positions, four of them are either appointed or guaranteed. The two appointed positions are reserved for representatives from the two largest communities in the province, Edmonton and Calgary. This year, as in the previous year, those positions will be filled by Sarah Hamilton, a City of Edmonton councillor, and Courtney Walcott, a City of Calgary councillor.

The remaining two positions will be occupied by members from FCM's provincial organizations in Alberta: the Association of Alberta Municipalities and the Rural Municipalities of Alberta. Cathy Heron, President of the Association of Alberta Municipalities, and Paul McLauchlin, President of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, will bring their extensive expertise and deep understanding of the Alberta municipal landscape to the FCM board for another year.

As the sole representative body for municipalities across Canada, the FCM's Board of Directors will play a crucial role in amplifying local voices and addressing the unique challenges faced by communities nationwide. Through collaboration, strategic initiatives, and advocacy, the FCM strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians.