With 4 councillor spots up for grabs this year in Kisbey, five new candidates have joined the three incumbents in the running.
The 2016 census has the village of Kisbey at a population of 153 residents, but there鈥檚 lots of interest in being on council.
All 8 candidates will be vying for the opportunity to bring their skills and experience to the table to better this community and carry on the legacy of leadership that has been successful in the past.
James Johnston has lived in the Kisbey area for his entire life of 65 years and in the village for over 40. Johnston has enjoyed his 20 years on Kisbey鈥檚 town council despite their struggle with maintaining the administrative aspect of their responsibilities. He is confident the great leadership in the position presently will help the current and new council develop and grow in the future.
鈥淚 am ready to have the young ones trained up to carry on with their ideas,鈥� said Johnston. 鈥淭his is an exceptional year for us because we have eight people looking for four chairs. It will be interesting to know what the new candidates鈥� platforms are.鈥�
Being ex-military, John Votour did not join council because he saw things that needed to be changed, he just seized a great opportunity to be a part of a strong team and serve his community the same way he has served through the Royal Canadian Legion and Elks over the years.
Even though there are challenges, Votour has enjoyed working through them with the current council. Votour enjoys his work with the council as he finds building and caring for the village itself and the people is a gratifying way to contribute for the many years he has enjoyed living there.
Looking back to see many of the small towns she lived in as a child with her family 鈥渇old up the sidewalks,鈥� Elisa Jackson is determined that no one in Kisbey will ever experience that, like those communities having lack of leadership or an economic downturn. This desire to be a part of the solution is what drives Jackson to run again this year.
Her eight non-consecutive years on council have given Jackson the opportunity to contribute to beautification, playground development and encourage young families to settle here. Once society has moved past COVID, the new council will be able to forge forward to develop more for the village.
鈥淚 am happy to be available 24/7 for the community and work with council and other committees,鈥� said Jackson as she explained her ability and time commitment.
New candidate Grant Beuckert moved to Kisbey five years ago with a job change. Originally saying 鈥淚 will never live more than 15 minutes from a Walmart,鈥� Beuckert explained he was offered a good job that required a move and now he loves life here. Already a part of the volunteer fire department and being a medical first responder, committing his time to his community through being on council just seems like another great way to help people.
鈥淚 have ideas that I hope to share with council and the community and feel that transparently communicating those to the people is important,鈥� Grant explained. 鈥淚 would love to see more community events right in Kisbey like picnics and barbecues and things like that being planned for the future.鈥�
Voters should understand that Beuckert sees the patterns the current and past councils have taken and he is excited to add his ideas to take this great community in a new direction.
Sheldon Wyatt heard the village was looking for younger people to join the council and he decided to let his name stand. Cattle farming with his parents, Roger and Melinda, his home quarter is still within Kisbey village limits. Wyatt has seen the council change things for the better in the town and he is eager to learn for the first six to 12 months.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have any pipe dreams for the village but that may change as I learn exactly what and how they do things,鈥� Wyatt said.
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Even though Mel Foy has only lived in Kisbey for 2 1/2 years, he has enjoyed meeting and working with many people in that time. Born and raised in the Oxbow and Manor areas, Foy came back to Kisbey to semi-retire after living for about 20 years in Lloyminster.
As a heavy-duty mechanic for Nankivell Trucking, Foy was told about the need for more and new members on council.听
