COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, February 03, 2026 at 9:00 A.m. - 10:00 A.m.

Jubilee Centre Council Chamber

9909 Franklin Avenue, Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2K4

Present:

• Sandy Bowman, Mayor
• Mike Allen, Councillor
• Ty Brandt, Councillor
• Lance Bussieres, Councillor
• Luana Bussieres, Councillor
• Kendrick Cardinal, Councillor
• Greg Marcel, Councillor
• Don Scott, Councillor
• Kyle Vandecasteyen, Councillor
• Jennifer Vardy, Councillor
• Stu Wigle, Councillor

Also Present:

• J. Butz, Interim Chief Administrative Officer
• J. Brown, Chief Legislative Officer
• C. Dow, Director, Human Resources and Safety
• T. Elliott, Director, Community Services
• L. Farquharson, Chief Financial Officer
• D. Fraser, Director, Indigenous and Rural Relations
• A. Owens, Director, Planning and Development Services
• A. Rempp, Director, Environmental Services
• K. Roberts, Acting Regional Fire Chief, Regional Emergency Services
• K. Smith, Director, Public Works
• S. Trylinski, Director, Legal Services
• E. White, Director, Project Management Office
• A. Armstrong, Legislative Officer

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1.

Call to Order

Mayor S. Bowman called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m.

2.

2026 Budget Proceedings 

2.1

2026 Proposed Operating Budget, 2027 – 2028 Financial Plan

Laurie Farquharson Chief Financial Officer introduced the 2026 Proposed Operating Budget, 2027-2028 Financial plan, noting that overall fiscal sustainability is a goal. 

3.

2026 Proposed Municipal Facility Operating Grant Allocation

Toni Elliot and Janelle Fleury, Community Services gave an overview of the 2026 Proposed Municipal Facility Operating Grant Allocations, noting that each organization will present their requests to Council individually.  

Exit and Returns

Councillor Stu Wigle and Councillor Jennifer Vardy exited the meeting at 9:15 a.m. and returned at 9:16 a.m.

Delegates

It was noted for the record that there were no delegates for this item. 

3.1

Fort McMurray Minor Baseball Association (2009)

Mike Mayuk, President, Fort McMurray Minor Baseball Association (2009) presented an overview of the Association's 2026 Municipal Facility Operating Grant funding request.  

Exit and Returns 

Councillor Lance Bussieres exited the meeting at 9:35 a.m. and returned at 9:41 a.m. 

• MOVER: Stu Wigle
  SECONDER: Kyle Vandecasteyen

  THAT $138,300 be allocated to the Fort McMurray Minor Baseball Association (2009) through the Municipal Facility Operating Grant as outlined in Attachment 1.

  FOR (11)

  Lance Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal, Stu Wigle, Sandy Bowman, Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Luana Bussieres, Don Scott, Jennifer Vardy, Greg Marcel, and Kyle Vandecasteyen

  CARRIED (11 to 0)

3.2

Fort McMurray Minor Hockey (1981) Association

Craig Organ, Frank Lacroix Arena Facility Operations Manager, and Steve Schreyer, President, Fort McMurray Minor Hockey (1981) presented an overview of the Association's 2026 Municipal Facility Operating Grant Funding Request.   

• MOVER: Stu Wigle
  SECONDER: Jennifer Vardy

  THAT $797,500 be allocated to the Fort McMurray Minor Hockey (1981) Association through the Municipal Facility Operating Grant as outlined in Attachment 1.

  FOR (11)

  Lance Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal, Stu Wigle, Sandy Bowman, Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Luana Bussieres, Don Scott, Jennifer Vardy, Greg Marcel, and Kyle Vandecasteyen

  CARRIED (11 to 0)

3.3

Fort McKay Métis Nation Association

Kaitlin Andrusyk, Executive Grant Writer Coordinator, Fort McKay Métis Nation Association (FMMNA) spoke to the FMMNA grant request. 

• MOVER: Kendrick Cardinal
  SECONDER: Luana Bussieres

  THAT $400,000 be allocated to the Fort McKay Métis Nation Association through the Municipal Facility Operating Grant as outlined in Attachment 1.

  FOR (11)

  Lance Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal, Stu Wigle, Sandy Bowman, Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Luana Bussieres, Don Scott, Jennifer Vardy, Greg Marcel, and Kyle Vandecasteyen

  CARRIED (11 to 0)

3.4

Northern Alberta Athletic Association

Jonathan Lambert, Director of Business and Community Engagement, Northern Alberta Athletic Association presented the Association's 2026 Municipal Facility Operating grant request.

 

• MOVER: Don Scott
  SECONDER: Mike Allen

  THAT $1,052,000 be allocated to the Northern Alberta Athletic Association through the Municipal Facility Operating Grant as outlined in Attachment 1.

  FOR (11)

  Lance Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal, Stu Wigle, Sandy Bowman, Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Luana Bussieres, Don Scott, Jennifer Vardy, Greg Marcel, and Kyle Vandecasteyen

  CARRIED (11 to 0)

3.5

Ptarmigan Nordic Ski Club

Recess

A recess occurred from 10:26 a.m. to 10:49 a.m. 

Carin Van Zyl, Vice President and Chris Sundholm, President, Ptarmigan Nordic Ski Club presented an overview of the Club's 2026 Municipal Facility Operating Grant funding. 

• MOVER: Stu Wigle
  SECONDER: Ty Brandt

  THAT $157,680 be allocated to the Ptarmigan Nordic Ski Club through the Municipal Facility Operating Grant as outlined in Attachment 1.

  FOR (11)

  Lance Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal, Stu Wigle, Sandy Bowman, Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Luana Bussieres, Don Scott, Jennifer Vardy, Greg Marcel, and Kyle Vandecasteyen

  CARRIED (11 to 0)

3.6

Vista Ridge Recreational Association

Bernice Later, General Manager, Vista Ridge Recreational Association, presented an overview of the Association's 2026 Municipal Facility Operating Grant funding request.  

• MOVER: Stu Wigle
  SECONDER: Ty Brandt

  THAT $1,600,500 be allocated to the Vista Ridge Recreational Association through the Municipal Facility Operating Grant as outlined in Attachment 1.

  FOR (11)

  Lance Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal, Stu Wigle, Sandy Bowman, Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Luana Bussieres, Don Scott, Jennifer Vardy, Greg Marcel, and Kyle Vandecasteyen

  CARRIED (11 to 0)

3.7

Young Men's Christian Association of Edmonton (YMCA of Northern Alberta)

Amanda MacIntosh, Program Manager, Eagle Ridge Community Centres, Young Men’s Christian Association of Edmonton (YMCA of Northern Alberta) presented an overview of the Association's 2026 Municipal Facility Operating Grant funding request.    

• MOVER: Stu Wigle
  SECONDER: Ty Brandt

  THAT $706,075 be allocated to the YMCA of Northern Alberta through the Municipal Facility Operating Grant as outlined in Attachment 1.

  FOR (11)

  Lance Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal, Stu Wigle, Sandy Bowman, Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Luana Bussieres, Don Scott, Jennifer Vardy, Greg Marcel, and Kyle Vandecasteyen

  CARRIED (11 to 0)

4.

2026 Proposed Subsidiary Corporation and Municipal Facility Capital Grant Allocation

Toni Elliot, Director, Community Services introduced the 2026 Proposed Subsidiary Corporation and Municipal Facility Capital Grant Allocations, noting that each organization will present their request to Council individually. 

4.1

Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo - Municipal Facility Capital Grant

Graig Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo, presented the capital grant request for the Corporation.  

• MOVER: Luana Bussieres
  SECONDER: Stu Wigle

  THAT $3,068,087 be allocated to the Regional Recreation Corporation through the Municipal Facility Capital Grant.

  FOR (11)

  Lance Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal, Stu Wigle, Sandy Bowman, Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Luana Bussieres, Don Scott, Jennifer Vardy, Greg Marcel, and Kyle Vandecasteyen

  CARRIED (11 to 0)

4.2

Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo - Subsidiary Corporation Operating Grant

Graig Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo, presented an overview of the Corporation's 2026 Subsidiary Corporation Operating Grant funding request. 

Exit and Returns

Councillor Lance Bussieres exited the meeting at 11:38 a.m. and returned at 11:43 a.m.

Councillor Stu Wigle exited the meeting at 11:57 a.m. and returned at 12:00 p.m.

Recess

Following voting on the next two motions, a recess occurred from 12:42 p.m. to 1:53p.m.

• MOVER: Mike Allen
  SECONDER: Ty Brandt

  THAT $17,579,247 be allocated to the Regional Recreation Corporation through the Subsidiary Corporation Operating Grant as outlined in Attachment 1.

  FOR (11)

  Lance Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal, Stu Wigle, Sandy Bowman, Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Luana Bussieres, Don Scott, Jennifer Vardy, Greg Marcel, and Kyle Vandecasteyen

  CARRIED (11 to 0)
• MOVER: Kendrick Cardinal
  SECONDER: Stu Wigle

  THAT $150,000 be added to the Regional Recreation Corporation’s Subsidiary Corporation Operating Grant for rural recreational programming. 

  FOR (4)	Kendrick Cardinal, Sandy Bowman, Don Scott, and Greg Marcel
  AGAINST (7)	Lance Bussieres, Stu Wigle, Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Luana Bussieres, Jennifer Vardy, and Kyle Vandecasteyen

  DEFEATED (4 to 7)

4.3

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Library Board

Corinna Pirie, Chair, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Library Board, and Melissa Flett, Director, Wood Buffalo Regional Library, presented an overview of the Corporation's 2026 Subsidiary Corporation Operating Grant Funding request.

Exits and Returns

Councillor Luana Bussieres exited the meeting at 1:53 p.m. and returned at 1:57 p.m. 

• MOVER: Stu Wigle
  SECONDER: Kyle Vandecasteyen

  THAT $4,664,965 be allocated to the Wood Buffalo Regional Library through the Subsidiary Corporation Operating Grant as outlined in Attachment 1.

  FOR (11)

  Lance Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal, Stu Wigle, Sandy Bowman, Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Luana Bussieres, Don Scott, Jennifer Vardy, Greg Marcel, and Kyle Vandecasteyen

  CARRIED (11 to 0)

4.4

Wood Buffalo Economic Development Corporation

Terry Cooper, Board Chair and Lisa Sweet, Interim CEO, Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism presented an overview of the Corporation's 2026 Subsidiary Corporation Operating Grant Funding request.

Exits and Returns 

Councillor Stu Wigle exited the meeting at 3:26 p.m. and returned at 3:30 p.m.

Councillor Ty Brandt exited the meeting at 3:47 p.m. and returned at 3:49 p.m.

Recess

Following voting on the next motion, a recess occurred from 4:06 p.m. to 4:25 p.m., at which time Mayor Sandy Bowman recessed the meeting to February 4th, 2026, to 9:00 a.m.

• MOVER: Mike Allen
  SECONDER: Lance Bussieres

  THAT $4,400,447 be allocated to the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism (FMWBEDT) through the Subsidiary Corporation Operating Grant as outlined in Attachment 1.

  FOR (11)

  Lance Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal, Stu Wigle, Sandy Bowman, Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Luana Bussieres, Don Scott, Jennifer Vardy, Greg Marcel, and Kyle Vandecasteyen

  CARRIED (11 to 0)

5.

Adjournment