Current sitting Lloydminster councillors got a chance to say their goodbyes and express their appreciation at the Nov. 4 council meeting.
The meeting was the last one scheduled for the current council.
“This is the last council meeting for the council you see before you today. I really want to say thank you to each and every member of this council for their service over the last four years or less, to the community,” said Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers.
With the municipal election in full swing and voters taking to advanced polls, council will look much different in just over a week.
Councillors each took to the microphone to talk about their time on council and thank one another.
“Although I will not be serving as a councillor after Nov. 13, I will continue to support initiatives that strengthen and build a community that people are proud to call home,” said Coun. Lorelee Marin.
“I just want to say my thanks to the citizens of Lloydminster who elected me to council in 2020 and supported me on this steep learning curve of serving the community as a councillor,” she said. “It’s been a privilege to serve the community, and to the mayor and my council colleagues, thank you for the warm welcome to the council table.”
Marin shared some words with her peers sitting around the table.
“Mayor Aalbers, thank you for your passion for Lloydminster, your relentless advocacy on behalf of the citizens and the community, the city is stronger because of your service,” she said.
Marin went around the table addressing each of the councillors, reminiscing about their times working together and the impacts they’ve each had. She also thanked Aaron Buckingham, who served on council before departing last November.
Marin had some heartfelt words to Glenn Fagnan, a two-term councillor and long-time Rotarian, who passed in June of this year.
“In June we said goodbye to our dear heart Glenn Fagnan. Glenn served this community not only as a councillor but as a change maker, he invested in the community and he left all of us with an incredible legacy that will shape the community for decades to come,” she said.
She thanked administration and city staff for their patience and assistance in navigating all the information and the financials.
Coun. Jason Whiting followed Marin in thanking those around the table.
“This is an opportunity to say thank you in case I don’t get back here again, I do want to say thank you to Lorelee for all your encouragement and the great discussion, and same with everyone here.”
Coun. Michael Diachuk expressed his appreciation for his fellow councillors and the work they’ve done.
“Thanks to, lot of thank you’s, one is those that elected each and every one of us and put trust in us to help make decisions that were going to take the city forward in a way that was going to be better, and at the same time, thank you to all administration that provided all the leg work and all the support making those decisions,” he said.
Diachuk went on to say it’s always about the strength of the mix of councillors with each person bringing in their own set of strengths.
“Council’s stronger because of that mix, each of us brings some different skill sets,” he said.
Diachuk commended the work the city’s been doing, citing projects like the downtown redevelopment, the library in its new home now part of the municipal system, and the Cenovus Energy Hub coming closer to completion.
Coun. David Lopez commended the discussions council has had and the teamwork they’ve displayed.
“It’s amazing the team we have right now, we come from different backgrounds, we come from different knowledge basses, and to be able to come and compromise and come to happy mediums is the true definition of teamwork,” said Lopez.
He thanked the other councillors, talking about times they’ve had together and how the different perspectives have helped him understand issues and topics through different lenses.
Rounding out the council discussion was Coun. Jonathan Torresan.
“It’s been a great eight-year run we’ve had here. I think when you first get into the game and you have an idea of what you think you are as a leader and what problems you think you’re going to help solve, you realize as you work through that and meet people, either on the council side or other communities or your own team or administration, how much effect that has on who you are as a person,” he said.
“I really appreciate my time and the people I’ve gotten to work with, for the ones that aren’t around the table, Aaron Buckingham, Glenn Fagnan, Stephanie Munro, Ken Baker, you don’t realize when you meet these people how much of an effect they’ll have on you, even if they are 55 years older than you.”
Torresan says he couldn’t be prouder of the city, citing changes made and positive impacts in the last eight years.
The municipal election is underway in Lloydminster, advanced polls are open, and residents can vote on Nov. 13, which is election day.
Read more: Lloydminster hears from candidates
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