Meet Council
Reeve, Ward 1
Tompkins - Blue Hills
Josh Knelsen
Cell: 780.926.7405
Email: josh@mackenziecounty.com
About Reeve Knelsen
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
Blumenort
Ernest (Ernie) Peters
Cell: 780.926.1788
Email: ernest@mackenziecounty.com
About Councillor Peters
The 2025-2029 term marks the third term as a member of Council for Ernie. 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
Buffalo Head/West La Crete
Dale Wiebe
Cell: 780.841.1990
Email: dale@mackenziecounty.com
About Councillor Wiebe
The 2025-2029 term marks the second term as a member of Council for Dale.
Councillor, Ward 3
La Crete
Peter Braun
Cell: 780.926.6238
Email: peter@mackenziecounty.com
About Councillor Braun
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
La Crete/La Crete Rural/
Hwy 88 Connector
David (Duffy) Driedger
Cell: 780.821.9225
Email: david@mackenziecounty.com
About Councillor Driedger
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
Fort Vermilion/
Fort Vermilion Rural
Henry Goertzen
Cell: 780.502.3775
Email: henry@mackenziecounty.com
About Councillor Goertzen
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
Fort Vermilion
Cameron Cardinal
Cell: 780.841.5119
Email: cameron@mackenziecounty.com
About Councillor Cardinal
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
Rocky Lane
Kim Bancarz
Cell: 780.285.4695
Email: kim@mackenziecounty.com
About Councillor Bancarz
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
Rural High Level/Zama
Lisa Wardley
Cell: 780.841.5799
Email: lisa@mackenziecounty.com
About Councillor Wardley
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)
Council Responsibilities
The Municipal Government Act (MGA) outlines the following duties and responsibilities of councillors in governing the municipality.
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.
Council Meetings
Mackenzie County Council typically meets twice per month in Fort Vermilion to discuss municipal business and make decisions that guide the direction of the County.
Council also holds Committee of the Whole meetings for more in-depth discussion, as well as dedicated budget meetings to establish annual funding priorities and municipal services.
Want to attend a Council Meeting?
Public Attendance & Delegations
Members of the public are welcome to attend Council meetings. To appear as a delegation, please contact the Fort Vermilion County Office at 780-927-3718 at least one week in advance.
Council
Responsibilities
The Municipal Government Act (MGA) outlines the following duties and responsibilities of councillors in governing the municipality.
1
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.
2
Participate generally in developing and evaluating the policies and programs of the municipality.
3
Participate in council meetings and council committee meetings and meetings of other bodies they are appointed to by the council.
4
Obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer.
5
Keep in confidence matters discussed in private at a council meeting until discussed at a meeting held in public.
6
Perform any other duty or function imposed on councillors by this or any other enactment or by the council.
Boards and Committees
Boreal Housing Foundation
Obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer.
Northern Lakes College CEC
Obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer.
Forest Capital of Canada
Obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer.
Northwest Species at Risk Committee
Obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer.
Mackenzie Regional Waste Management Commission
Obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer.
Regional Economic Development Initiative
Obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer.
Mackenzie Applied Research Association
Obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer.
Rural Health Professionals Action Plan
Obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer.
Mackenzie Frontier Tourist Association
Obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer.
Obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer.
Intermunicipal Collaboration
Mackenzie County works closely with the Town of High Level and the Town of Rainbow Lake to support regional cooperation and long-term sustainability in the Mackenzie Region.
Through agreements such as the Intermunicipal Collaborative Framework, service sharing arrangements, joint planning and regional development initiatives, the municipalities coordinate services and planning across the region.
The County contributes $1,000,000 annually to the Town of High Level for shared regional services such as recreation, airport operations, and fire protection, and provides $1,250,000 to the Town of Rainbow Lake through a revenue-sharing agreement that supports municipal services and community stability.