New North executive: Councillor Keith Leprise of Stony Rapids, Air Ronge Mayor Gordon Stomp, recently-elected La Loche Mayor Robert St. Pierre, Pinehouse Mayor Mike Natomagan, and Creighton Mayor Bruce Fidler. Photo by Chelsea Laskowski
There have been some big changeovers on the board of the northern municipal advocacy body.
New North has named four new people onto its executive to hold positions for the next four years, with Gord Stomp the only remaining member. He is a long-time board member and mayor of Air Ronge.
Ile-a-la-Crosse Mayor Duane Favel chose not to run again, while Al Sayn and Val Deschambeault are no longer eligible for the executive after the fall municipal elections. Also, Isidore Desjarlais is no longer on the board.
Executive elections were held at New North’s Annual General Meeting at Prince Albert’s Travelodge on Thursday.
Long-time Creighton mayor Bruce Fidler is among the new executive members.
“I care about what happens in the north, I want to be a part of the future of the north, a part of building a sustainable future for the north and I always feel that if you’re going to care about it you might as well take part in it and have your voice put forward,” Fidler said.
He has sat on the board in the past, so his face will be familiar to many.
Also joining the board is Pinehouse Mayor Mike Natomagan, recently-elected La Loche Mayor Robert St. Pierre, and councillor Keith Leprise of Stony Rapids.
The executive changes are part of some big changes in New North’s membership in the past month: Matt Heley was recently named New North CEO, and a fleet of new mayors and councillors were elected in recent municipal elections.
The new faces will be sitting in on a day’s worth of lessons on “conflict of interest rules and the statuary and fiduciary responsibilities of elected officials, council policy and procedures” and more at a special workshop on Friday, according to New North’s October newsletter.
Heley says having so many recently-elected members is exciting.
“There are so many issues out there and I do believe that so many new people coming in shows they are very engaged in their communities so we’re looking forward to a pretty exciting time.”