Town Council

Mayor & Council

District of Mackenzie Council is comprised of a Mayor and six Councillors, elected for four year terms. Municipal Councils are elected by the people and make decisions on behalf of the residents of our municipality.

Meet our 2022 - 2026 Council members:

Mayor Joan Atkinson

Joan moved to Mackenzie with her husband and two sons in 1997 and boasts there is no place she would rather live. Both of Joan’s sons and her husband Jim work in the Forest Industry in the area, so Joan recognizes the importance of maintaining a strong forest economy in our community. Joan is very enthusiastic about the opportunities of good paying jobs, affordable housing and a great quality of life that Mackenzie can offer to families and young persons. She is also committed to ensuring the Senior Community in Mackenzie enjoy the respect and support that is due them.

Joan has been a member of council since 2007. Joan’s involvement in the community has been vast and varied and she has been recognized as Volunteer of the Year. Joan sees the role of Council of being one that moves the community into the future, with strong fiscal management, good governance and exploration of all opportunities that are available to Mackenzie. Joan is committed to ensuring Mackenzie is a safe, attractive and healthy community that people are proud to call home.

Contact Mayor Atkinson
Email
Phone: 250-997-3221

Councillor Andy Barnes

Councillor Barnes was transferred to Mackenzie as the head of the RCMP detachment in 1989. He retired from the RCMP in 1991 to become a Pastor at the Living Joy Christian Center, where he and his wife Adele were able to become very involved with children and youth in the community. Although they appreciate the natural beauty of our community, the friendly, helpful and hardy people are what Andy and Adele love, and they are grateful to have developed many amazing friendships over the past 29 years. Andy and Adele have raised three children in Mackenzie, and believe it is a great place for a family. They find great enjoyment in family and grandchildren and love the time spent together. Their grandkids love to visit Mackenzie and enjoy going to the pool and eating at the local restaurants.

Andy loves sports, and is a member of the Mackenzie Golf and Country Club. He plays drop in hockey during the winter, golfs during the summer, and appreciates our Recreation Center, doing his best to get to the gym three times a week. He also greatly enjoys reading.

Over the last several years, Andy has become more aware of local government and began to pay attention to what was happening in our community from a government perspective. As a result, he decided to run for a spot on Council. He was elected in January 2017 and enjoys bringing his own leadership experience to a team serving our community. He believes this community is a tremendous place to live, work and raise a family, and, that there are many opportunities for us to grow and improve.

Contact Councillor Barnes
Email

Councillor Viktor Brumovsky

Viktor and his family first arrived in Mackenzie 15 years ago, shortly after he finished his formal education. Their first child had just been born and they were looking for a place to build a life together. When Viktor was offered work in his chosen field here in Mackenzie, his family packed up their things and headed north.

At first they didn’t know what to expect from life in Mackenzie but the town soon convinced them to stay. Where else can one find such a clean, affordable, and healthy place to live? It’s a place where kids are afforded a level of freedom to grow and learn that is rare in today’s world, while adults can enjoy living life at a more human pace than we see in bigger towns and cities. We have more time to visit with friends, practice our hobbies, or head out into the woods to enjoy our surroundings.

Viktor is a GIS analyst at Wildlife Infometrics, performing mapping and spatial analysis work to assist his coworkers with wildlife consulting projects across western Canada. In the community, he is an active volunteer and is involved with a number of groups including the Mackenzie Fish and Game Association, Air Cadets, the Mackenzie Community Arts Council, and the Mackenzie Middle Years Advisory Group. Previously he served on the Mackenzie Public Library’s Board of Directors for eight years, including two years as the chairperson. In addition to this he is currently, or has been a member of the Mackenzie Nordiques Cross Country Ski Club, Mackenzie and Area Radio Society, Mackenzie and District Museum Society, and the Royal Canadian Legion. His hobbies include woodworking, fly fishing, hunting, and gardening.

Viktor’s family moved to Canada when he was an infant. He grew up being very thankful to this country for providing citizenship and a home when it was most needed and has always thought that the only way to repay this gift is by trying to be the kind of citizen that Canada can be proud of. This drives him to get involved, volunteer, and lend a hand where he is able to in the hopes of making his home better in whatever small ways he can. After volunteering in a number of other areas around the community he felt prepared to run for Council and work towards encouraging positive outcomes for the entire community.

Contact Councillor Brumovsky
Email

Councillor Amber Hipkiss

Amber has lived in Mackenzie almost her entire life, having only left the community for a brief period. In 1995, Amber returned to the community for her husband’s work, and like many in Mackenzie, with the well-known plan to only stay for two years. However, the birth of their son made them realize, with the short walking distances to Morfee Lake and Little Mac, what an amazing place this is for raising a child. As he grew up, they loved Mackenzie for different reasons - hiking, kayaking, camping – but always the outdoors. And the people, who give this town a sense of community like no other.

Amber is the owner of two local (Love Mackenzie) businesses: Chrysalid Tech and Print and Santosha Yoga. She is also president of the local Rotary Club and the Mackenzie Community Market, treasurer for Kimta Community Bus Society, a director of the McLeod Lake Mackenzie Community Forest and a member of both the Mackenzie Gets Healthy Committee and the Mackenzie Nordiques. Her hobbies, when she has time for them, include hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, camping, traveling, reading and yoga.

Amber ran for office because she loves this town, and contributing to solutions that address the issues we are facing. In her role, she enjoys working with the Mayor and other Councillors, building relationships with similar people in other communities, watching projects take shape, and talking to local residents about what they feel is most important.

Contact Councillor Hipkiss
Email

Councillor Raye McMeeken

Raye McMeeken has been a councillor for the District of Mackenzie since May 2013. She has lived in Mackenzie for 32 years with her husband Mel and raised their 3 children here. She works at the College of New Caledonia as a Project Planner for the New Horizons Bridging the Gap project. Currently she volunteers as a worship leader for Living Joy Christian Centre, is the President of the Northern BC Community Sport Development Society (formerly Northern BC Winter Games Society) and sits on the Engage Sport North board. Her hobbies include music, reading, walking, kayaking, and travelling.

Raye has always loved Mackenzie and what this town represents. The people of this community are giving, friendly and hard-working and she wants to be able to give back to the town that has provided so many opportunities for her and her family. Working with the other members of Council has been very rewarding and she is excited to be part of this new council to make Mackenzie the best it can be.

Contact Councillor McMeeken
Email

Councillor Kyle Tapper

Councillor Tapper and his family moved to scenic Mackenzie in 2017 to work as a high school teacher at Mackenzie Secondary School, where he continues to be employed five years later. Mackenzie was only supposed to be a two-three year stay but Kyle and his family are happy to call Mackenzie home and have rooted themselves into the community. The natural beauty of the area, the friendliness of its residents and the feel of community has kept them here and will keep them here for a long time.

Not only is Councillor Tapper a teacher, but he is also President of the Community Garden, President of the Omineca Growers Society and has been a Mackenzie Public Library Board Member for the past two years. In the summer of 2022, he completed his Masters of Education in Educational Leadership and he felt that with the knowledge obtained from his Master’s Program and his involvement within the community, that this was the perfect time to run for a Council position and to help move Mackenzie forward.

Councillor Tapper is proud to call Mackenzie home, proud to serve on Council and is very excited to see what the next four years look like and how he can help shape them.

Contact Councillor Tapper
Email

Councillor Jesse Wright

Jesse moved to Mackenzie in 2019 to be a teacher for School District 57. He taught during the 2019-2020 school year as the Grade 6 classroom teacher at Morfee Elementary and did some TTOC’ing at Mackenzie Secondary during the 2020-2021 school year. Realizing the teaching career path was too hard on his mental health, Jesse quit teaching and has worked numerous other jobs in Mackenzie. Some highlights are a year as Mackenzie’s Regional Business Liaison for Community Futures of Fraser-Fort George, Gas Meter Reader for Olameter, Ski Instructor at Little Mac for the District of Mackenzie, Bartender at the Mackenzie Legion and Tourist Information Officer for the Mackenzie Chamber of Commerce working at the Visitor’s Centre Caboose. Jesse has also been active in the Mackenzie community, serving on the Mackenzie Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors from July 2021 till September 2022. Currently, Jesse works as a Child and Youth Care Worker for Mackenzie Counselling Service’s and also is Constituency Assistant to M.L.A. Mike Morris, operating Mike’s Mackenzie office.

Jesse is originally from Ontario, living parts of his life in Havelock and Bethany Ontario, small towns around Peterborough. Prior to moving to Mackenzie, Jesse earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Trent University in Political Science. He graduated with a minor in Environment and Resource Studies and an Emphasis in Law And Policy on his transcript. After Jesse attended York University earning a Bachelor of Education. Jesse worked as a ski instructor throughout his university years, and it was his passion for skiing that drew Jesse to Mackenzie because of its proximity to Powder King. He currently has his Level 3 Teaching and Level 2 Skiing with the C.S.I.A. and also Level 1’s as a Race Coach and in adaptive skiing with C.A.D.S. At different points in his life, Jesse has worked for all different levels of government. Municipally for the City of Toronto, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Provincially for MLA Morris and Federally for Statistics Canada as a Census Enumerator.

Jesse has made Mackenzie his home. He met his fiancée Michaela in Mackenzie, when they had classrooms side by side that first year he taught. He proposed on the top of Little Mac in the summer of 2022 and could not have run for council without her support. Michaela is currently still a teacher at Morfee Elementary. He ran for office because he has always had a deep passion to help make where he lives a better place. He sees being an elected official as the best way to help the people he lives around. He has also had a lifelong passion for politics, having volunteered on many different political campaigns, and having his ideal Friday night being listening to the latest political podcast.

Contact Councillor Wright
Email

Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes

Elections

The General Municipal Election was held on October 15, 2022. Visit our elections page to view election results.

Council Priorities 2021-2025

Contact

Diane Smith
Chief Administrative Officer

250-997-3221
Email Diane

Emily Kaehn
Director of Corporate Services

250-997-3221
Email Emily

2021 - 2025 Council Priorities

The purpose of setting Council priorities is to provide District staff with the direction needed to develop operational plans to achieve the Council’s vision. These priorities are reviewed annually to respond to new ideas and changes in circumstances that arise through the 2021-2025 period.

Community and Social Development

Our investment in the municipality's services and infrastructure, our commitment to principles of social equity and well-being, and our belief in the value of resident engagement, creates a healthy community in which everyone feels valued and enjoys a high quality of life.

Environmental Sustainability

The way we operate has an impact on the environment. We are committed to integrating sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance factors (ESG) into our decision making and business practices.

Economic Vitality

The District is a leader on efforts aimed at diversifying the community's economy, supporting local businesses, and attracting new investment to the community. Diversification, a strong business sector and new investment are key to our economic vitality.

Strong Governance and Finances

As the municipality's elected governing body, we serve all residents and businesses in the community. We engage residents and stakeholders on important issues and make our decisions through open and transparent processes. We are careful in our use of resources, mindful of the need to maintain programs and services, while also meeting the community's infrastructure needs.

Please see District of Mackenzie Council Priorities 2021–2025 for further detail.

Council Committees:

After a local government election or annually, Mayor and Councillor liaison appointments are made to various boards and or committees. Statutory and mandatory appointments are required for various positions and other liaison appointments may be made at the discretion of Council.

2023 Council Liaison Appointments

Annual Appointments – Ending November 1^st of Each Year

Strategic Priorities Liaisons – 4-Year Appointments Ending November 1, 2026

Deputy Mayor

Access and Inclusion Committee

Asset Management Committee

Chamber of Commerce

CNC Advisory Group

Grant Adjudication Committee

Mackenzie Wildfire Advisory Committee

The Mackenzie Wildfire Advisory Committee is a partnership between the District of Mackenzie and the McLeod Lake Mackenzie Community Forest. The committee provides a forum for key stakeholders and government agencies to share information; coordinate efforts and collectively direct wildfire initiatives and ensure impactful, efficient, and timely action to mitigate wildfire threats to the community.

Municipal Library

New Horizons – Senior Inclusion Solutions Advisory Group

Agricultural Opportunities and Food Security Liaison

Climate Action Liaison

Education Liaison

MLMCF Council Representative – 3-Year Term Ending June 2025

Forestry Liaison

Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Liaison

Mining Liaison

McLeod Lake Mackenzie Community Forest

Full Term Appointments to Other Boards – Ending November 1, 2026

BC Hydro Peace River/Williston Reservoir Advisory Committee

DoM Emergency Executive Committee

Northern Development Initiative Trust – Prince George Regional Advisory Committee

Northern Development is a regionally operated economic development funding corporation for central and northern British Columbia. Northern Development operates independently from government and provides the funding and ability to identify and pursue new opportunities for stimulating economic growth and job creation within the region. The committee is comprised of elected representatives from several municipalities, regional districts and provincial electoral areas.

Prince George Treaty Advisory Committee (PGTAC) – Regional District Sub.

Regional District of Fraser-Fort George

The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (RDFFG) is a municipal government incorporated pursuant to the Local Government Act of British Columbia. Its assets and liabilities belong to the electorate (residents and property owners) within the geographic boundaries of the RDFFG.

Regional districts provide:

services in rural areas
joint or shared services in municipalities and rural areas
administrative services including capital borrowing for its members
the political forum for local government policy matters

About 100,000 people reside within the boundary of RDFFG and there are four municipalities and seven electoral areas:

City of Prince George
District of Mackenzie
Village of Valemount
Village of McBride
Electoral Areas A, C, D, E, F, G and H

The RDFFG Board of Directors consists of 14 elected officials. Seven are appointed by their municipal councils and seven are directly elected to the board from within the electoral areas of the RDFFG.

The Local Government Act identifies the following purposes of a regional district:

Providing good government for its community.
Providing the services and other things that the board considers are necessary or desirable for all or part of its community.
Providing for stewardship of the public assets of its community.
Fostering the current and future economic, social and environmental well being of its community.