The council is the governing body of the municipal corporation and the custodian of its powers, both legislative and administrative.
The Municipal Government Act (MGA) provides that councils can only exercise the powers of the municipal corporation in the proper form, either by bylaw or resolution.
Under the MGA, councillors have the duty to:
- consider the welfare and interests of the municipality as a whole and, to bring to the council’s attention anything that would promote the welfare or interests of the municipality
- participate generally in developing and evaluating the policies and programs of the municipality
- participate in council meetings and council committee meetings and meetings of other bodies they are appointed to by the council
- obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer
- keep in confidence matters discussed in private at a council meeting until discussed at a meeting held in public
- perform any other duty or function imposed on councillors by this or any other enactment or by the council.
Councillors (2025-2029 Term)
All Councillors are members of the following committees; Committee of the Whole, Emergency Advisory Committee and the Indigenous Liaison Committee. One or more Councillors are specifically appointed to represent Council on many other committees/boards.
Reeve, Ward 1
Josh Knelsen
Cell: 780.926.7405
Email: josh@mackenziecounty.com
The 2025-2029 term marks the fourth term as a member of Council for Josh.
Reeve Knelsen is ex-officio for all Council Committees. He has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Agricultural Service Board
- Hay Zama Committee
- Regional Economic Development Initiative
- Water North Coalition
Deputy Reeve, Ward 5
Ernest Peters
Cell: 780.926.1788
Email: ernest@mackenziecounty.com
The 2025-2029 term marks the third term as a member of Council for Ernest.
Deputy Reeve Peters has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Agricultural Service Board
- Community Futures Northwest Alberta
- Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP)
Councillor, Ward 2
Dale Wiebe
Cell: 780.841.1990
Email: dale@mackenziecounty.com
The 2025-2029 term marks the second term as a member of Council for Dale.
Councillor, Ward 3
Peter Braun
Cell: 780.926.6238
Email: peter@mackenziecounty.com
The 2025-2029 term marks the seventh term as a member of Council for Peter.
Councillor Braun has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Community Services Committee
- Inter-Municipal Planning Commission
- La Crete Community Adult Learning Council
- Mackenzie Regional Waste Management Commission
- Municipal Planning Commission
- Northern Lakes College CEC – La Crete
Councillor, Ward 4
David Driedger
Cell: 780.821.9225
Email: david@mackenziecounty.com
The 2025-2029 term marks the third term as a member of Council for David.
Councillor Driedger has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Agricultural Service Board
- Inter-Municipal Planning Commission
- Joint Steering Committee (Ad-Hoc)
- Municipal Planning Commission
- Water North Coalition (WNC)
Councillor, Ward 6
Henry Goertzen
Cell: 780.502.3775
Email: henry@mackenziecounty.com
The 2025-2029 term marks the first term as a member of Council for Henry.
Councillor Goertzen has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Agricultural Appeal Board
- Boreal Housing Foundation
- Community Services Committee
- Flood Recovery Steering Committee
- Mackenzie Applied Research Association (MARA)
- Northwest Species at Risk (NWSAR) (alt)
- Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP)
- Veterinary Services Incorporated (VSI)
Councillor, Ward 7
Cameron Cardinal
Cell: 780.841.5119
Email: cameron@mackenziecounty.com
The 2025-2029 term marks the third term as a member of Council for Cameron.
Councillor Cardinal has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Agricultural Appeal Board
- Alberta Health Regional Advisory Councils 1
- Assessment Review Board
- Boreal Housing Foundation
- Community Services Committee
- Flood Recovery Steering Committee
- Mackenzie Frontier Tourist Association (MFTA)
- Mackenzie Library Board
- Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance
- Northern Lakes College CEC – Fort Vermilion
- Northwest Species at Risk (NWSAR)
- Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP)
- Subdivision & Development Appeal Board
- Upper Hay Regional Forests Public Advisory Committee (PAC)
Councillor, Ward 8
Kim Bancarz
Cell: 780.285.4695
Email: kim@mackenziecounty.com
The 2025-2029 term marks the first term as a member of Council for Kim.
Councillor Bancarz has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Joint Steering Committee (Ad-Hoc)
- Mackenzie Regional Waste Management Commission
- Northern Lakes College CEC – High Level
- Veterinary Services Incorporated (VSI) (alt)
Councillor, Ward 9
Lisa Wardley
Cell: 780.841.5799
Email: lisa@mackenziecounty.com
The 2025-2029 term marks the seventh term as a member of Council for Lisa.
Councillor Wardley has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Agricultural Appeal Board
- Alberta Health – Regional Advisory Councils 1
- Assessment Review Board
- Boreal Housing Foundation
- Community Services Committee
- Forest Capital of Canada
- Hay Zama Committee
- Inter-Municipal Subdivision & Development Appeal Board
- Joint Steering Committee (Ad-Hoc)
- Mackenzie Frontier Tourist Association (MFTA)
- Mackenzie Library Board
- Northwest Species at Risk (NWSAR)
- Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI)
- Subdivision & Development Appeal Board
- The Northern Lights Forest Education Society
- Upper Hay Regional Forests Public Advisory Committee (PAC)