With 2023 wrapped up, the Town of Kirkland Lake is reflecting on its first year with its new council.
In late October of 2022, the new mayor and council were elected for the town. Mayor Stacy Wight told TimminsToday their council made history in the election.
“We're very, very fortunate that we have five returning members from last term. So we have experience of our former mayor as well. He sits in a council position now, so we have him to lean on, as well as onboarding two female members,” she said.
“For the first time in Kirkland Lake history, we have a division of three female to four male members, which is just an incredible feat in a small community. So that was incredible.”
Wight is the second woman elected as mayor in the town's history.
Training has been a key component for council members, she said.
“I have managed to get a lot of training for our council members because I do believe that a well-educated and informed council is the best option for our community,” she said
“We received probably more training in the last year than we did in the last four years of our previous term. It's just incredible and administration have really been supportive in procuring the best education that we can get for our council members.”
Wight said she doesn’t think residents realize how much of their jobs as council members are regulated and legislated duties.
“So often I hear, 'Well, you're the mayor, you can just do that.' And of course, no, we can't just do anything. There's so many policies, procedures, legislation, and regulation that really dictate the scope of our job. And I think it's really important to have council members understand not only their duties, but also the scope and their limitations as council member,” she said.
“We don't want a bunch of people out there promising things they simply can't deliver, because in the long run, that really takes away from the trust of council within the community.”
Wight said she’s both lucky and thankful for their council.
“We have a very diverse council with people of different ages. We've got members that are retired, we have members with families, we have single members, so we are very, very lucky to have a vast array of people and perspectives at the table,” she said.
“I've also got a council that when we're sitting at the table, we are definitely making decisions based on teamwork and accountability. So I'm very, very thankful to that.”
