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 (2021-2025 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 2021-2025 term marks the third term as a member of Council for Josh.
11 years of service.
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
- Community Services Committee
- Flood Recovery Steering Committee
- Hay Zama Committee
- Mackenzie Regional Waste Management Commission
- Regional Economic Development Initiative
- Water North Coalition
Deputy Reeve, Ward 8
Walter Sarapuk
Cell: 780.926.6384
Email: walter@mackenziecounty.com
The 2021-2025 term marks the eleventh term as a member of Council for Walter.
35 years of service.
Deputy Reeve Sarapuk has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Agricultural Appeal Board
- Northern Lakes College CEC – High Level
- Veterinary Services Incorporated (VSI) (alt)
Councillor, Ward 2
Dale Wiebe
Cell: 780.841.1990
Email: dale@mackenziecounty.com
The 2021-2025 term marks the first term as a member of Council for Dale.
1 year of service.
Councillor, Ward 3
Peter Braun
Cell: 780.926.6238
Email: peter@mackenziecounty.com
The 2021-2025 term marks the sixth term as a member of Council for Peter.
20 years of service.
Councillor Braun has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Community Services Committee
- Family and Community Support Services – La Crete
- Inter-Municipal Planning Commission
- La Crete Community Adult Learning Council
- Mackenzie Regional Waste Management Commission
- Municipal Planning Commission
- Northern Lakes College CEC – La Crete
- Recreation Board – La Crete
Councillor, Ward 4
David Driedger
Cell: 780.821.9225
Email: david@mackenziecounty.com
The 2021-2025 term marks the second term as a member of Council for David.
7 years of service.
Councillor Driedger has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Agricultural Service Board
- Inter-Municipal Planning Commission
- Municipal Planning Commission
Councillor, Ward 5
Ernest Peters
Cell: 780.926.1788
Email: ernest@mackenziecounty.com
The 2021-2025 term marks the second term as a member of Council for Ernest.
7 years of service.
Councillor Peters has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Agricultural Service Board
- Community Futures Northwest
- Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP)
- Water North Coalition (WNC)
Councillor, Ward 6
Garrell Smith
Cell: 780.841.2565
Email: gary@mackenziecounty.com
The 2021-2025 term marks the first term as a member of Council for Garrell.
3 years of service.
Councillor Smith has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Community Services Committee
- Flood Recovery Steering Committee
- Mackenzie Applied Research Association (MARA)
- Northwest Species at Risk (NWSAR)
- Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP)
- Veterinary Services Incorporated (VSI)
Councillor, Ward 7
Cameron Cardinal
Cell: 780.841.5119
Email: cameron@mackenziecounty.com
The 2021-2025 term marks the second term as a member of Council for Cameron.
7 years of service.
Councillor Cardinal has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Agricultural Appeal Board
- Assessment Review Board
- Community Services Committee
- Flood Recovery Steering Committee
- Mackenzie Library Board
- Subdivision & Development Appeal Board
- Boreal Housing Foundation
- Family and Community Support Services – Fort Vermilion
- Mackenzie Frontier Tourist Association (MFTA)
- Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance
- Northern Lakes College CEC – Fort Vermilion
- Northwest Species at Risk (NWSAR) (alt)
- Recreation Board – Fort Vermilion
- Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP)
- Upper Hay Regional Forests Public Advisory Committee (PAC)
Councillor, Ward 9
Eileen Morris
Cell: 780.926.1780
Email: eileen@mackenziecounty.com
The 2021-2025 term marks the first term as a member of Council for Eileen.
1 year of service.
Councillor Morris has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
Councillor, Ward 10
Lisa Wardley
Cell: 780.841.5799
Email: lisa@mackenziecounty.com
The 2021-2025 term marks the sixth term as a member of Council for Lisa.
20 years of service.
Councillor Wardley has been specifically appointed to represent Council on the following committees/boards:
- Agricultural Appeal Board
- Assessment Review Board
- Boreal Housing Foundation
- Community Services Committee
- Inter-Municipal Subdivision & Development Appeal Board
- Mackenzie Library Board
- Subdivision & Development Appeal Board
- Family and Community Support Services – Zama
- Hay Zama Committee
- Mackenzie Frontier Tourist Association (MFTA)
- Northwest Species at Risk (NWSAR)
- Recreation Board – Zama
- Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI)
- The Northern Lights Forest Education Society
- Upper Hay Regional Forests Public Advisory Committee (PAC)