Three-Way Race Underway for Alberta Municipalities President

A three-way race is taking shape to determine the next president of Alberta Municipalities, following last month’s municipal elections. The organization is seeking a new full-time president after incumbent Tyler Gandam, Mayor of Wetaskiwin, was defeated in his bid for re-election.

Three candidates have put their names forward to lead the provincial municipal association: Penhold Mayor Mike Yargeau, Grande Prairie Councillor Dylan Bressey, and Calgary Communities First Party Councillor André Chabot.

Delegates will hear from each candidate on Friday, November 14, during the organization’s annual convention in Calgary, where they will outline their vision for Alberta Municipalities over the next term.

Chabot previously sought the presidency in 2023, running against Gandam and former Legal Mayor Trina Jones. In that race, Gandam won with 60 per cent of the vote, Jones received 29.7 per cent, and Chabot finished with under 10 per cent.

The new president will play a key role in advocating for municipalities across the province on funding, governance, and provincial-municipal relations. At the first meeting of Alberta Municipalities after the 2025 Municipal Election, the board appointed Village of Duchess Deputy Mayor Deborah Reid-Mickler as interim president.

In addition to the presidential vote, delegates will also elect several members to the Alberta Municipalities board this year. One of the key contests will be for Vice-President, Cities up to 500,000, where a three-way race is underway between incumbent vice-president and Grande Prairie Councillor Dylan Bressey, Lethbridge Councillor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel, and Spruce Grove Councillor Erin Stevenson. If Bressey is elected president, his name will be withdrawn from the vice-president ballot and all other director contests.

Two board seats in the Director, Cities up to 500,000 category are also up for election. The first of these positions carries a two-year term. Five candidates are seeking the seat: Councillor Dylan Bressey of Grande Prairie, Deputy Mayor Mohammed Idriss of Brooks, Councillor Janelle Sandboe of Chestermere, Councillor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel of Lethbridge, and Councillor Erin Stevenson of Spruce Grove.

As with the vice-president race, the list of candidates may narrow depending on earlier outcomes. If Bressey wins either the presidency or vice-presidency, his name will be removed from this contest. If Stevenson is elected vice-president, her name will also be withdrawn.

A second Director, Cities up to 500,000 position is being filled in a by-election for the remaining one year of the term previously held by former Airdrie Councillor Tina Petrow, who stepped down after an unsuccessful run for mayor. The same five candidates are currently on the ballot for this one-year term, though the field may be reduced depending on the results of the presidential, vice-presidential, and first director elections. Any candidate who wins a prior seat will not appear on this ballot.

In the Director, Towns South by-election, four candidates are seeking to complete the term of former Coalhurst Councillor Scott Akkermans, who was defeated in his mayoral bid. The candidates are Deputy Mayor Tanya Foubert of Canmore, Deputy Mayor Angie Fricke of Carstairs, Nanton Mayor Jennifer Handley, and High River Councillor Jenny Jones.

The Director, Towns East position has two candidates on the ballot. Councillor Al Harvey of Lamont and Councillor David Sharun of Bonnyville have both submitted nomination papers for that role. The eventual winners will go on to form the board, which includes acclaimed Vice-President, Villages and Summer Villages Deborah Reid-Mickler, Vice-President - Towns Calmer Councillor Krista Gardner, Director - Summer Villages, Summer Village of Sundance Beach Mayor Brian Waterhouse. Also, not up or election this year, Directors - Towns East, Amisk Mayor Bill Rock, Director - Town West Alberta Beach Mayor Tara Elwood,