Mayor Bill Given (photo courtesy of the City of Grande Prairie)

By Liam Verster

Election 2021

Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given will not run for re-election in 2021

Oct 1, 2020 | 2:46 PM

Mayor of the City of Grande Prairie Bill Given has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2021.

Given has served on City Council since 2001, where he spent nine years as a Councillor and the last 10 years as Mayor.

He says he hopes his announcement will inspire people who have thought of being a representative for the people of Grande Prairie to start considering the idea running in next year’s municipal election.

“I hope that people will start to think about their potential for serving on council. If my announcement sort of acts as a little bit of a catalyst for somebody out there who has always thought about City Council, or has wanted to see Council do something, I hope that this will act as a little bit of a catalyst for them to start to get involved, to start to prepare, to start to plan.”

Given says he’s seen a lot of campaigns fail because they started too late to generate enough attention, and though he doesn’t believe people should start campaigning right away, he does say those who are interested should start networking.

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He adds reaching out to members of the community to find out their priorities, concerns and ideas can be very beneficial, as candidates can wind up being future representatives for Swan City residents.

Following that, he suggests the next elected officials need to keep in mind that they are representing the public.

“My advice for the next council and the next elected officials would be to have a deep appreciation for the honour that’s been bestowed upon you. Each of us that get selected to council is a steward of the community for a short period of time, and I believe it’s our job to do the best that we can to care for it and nurture it.

“And then finally I think I would give them the advice to maintain respect for the civic administration professionals that work for the City of Grande Prairie. We’ve got a fantastic team of nearly a thousand employees who are working day in and day out to make this a great place to live, and no council will be successful if they don’t appreciate that fact first and foremost.”

Looking back on the 20 years in the council chambers, Given says he’s been fortunate to work with a lot of great people.

“First and foremost, I had a chance to receive a lot of great guidance in my early years on council from the fantastic elected officials like Helen Rice and Wayne Ayling, Carol-Lee Eckhardt and others,” said Given. “I got to serve under two great mayors, Mayor Ayling and Mayor Logan, and what I think I really learned is anybody can serve on council, it really is a representative democracy where people who care about this community can put their name forward, and so I think that’s something that’s very special about municipal government.

“But beyond that, I have appreciated the fact that every person that has been ever elected to council in Grande Prairie has brought a passion to this community, and they have all contributed something very unique.”

Given adds that it’s the hard work of all these people that have led to the growth and advancement of the City. He says though he couldn’t do it alone, and is quick to say he can’t take credit for everything that’s happened during the last 20 years, there are some things he’s very proud of, particularly the big decisions that have created lasting impacts on the community.

“Like the creation of the Eastlink Centre, the Montrose Cultural Centre, and maintaining the original facade of the art gallery. Watching the city grow from what was approximately 30,000 when I was first elected to now nearly 70,000. Having a chance to complete the annexation for the community and provide a lot of room for our tax base to grow over time was a big accomplishment.”

He adds he’s very pleased with how he did with taxes, maintaining them below the rate of inflation over the course of his time as mayor, and that he feels very privileged to work with other leaders in the community to help the economy grow.

Given, who became emotional thinking back on the past, adds that he’s extremely proud of even the small gestures that have been made to help the city grow to become a more welcoming place for people, and that show people are valued in the community.

Given will continue to serve on the Alberta Union of Municipalities Association, as well as its business entity, the Alberta Municipal Services Corporation after he leaves his position with the City. However, other plans are still up in the air for what he will do in the future.

Though he won’t be seeking re-election, he says he will continue to fight for the people of the City in his final year as Mayor.

“And this will be a little more freeing during debate because I will be able to say what I mean without people having to wonder if I’m trying to make some other sort of political point,” said Given. “I get a chance now to express what I consider to be in the best interest of the community, as I’ve always done, but hopefully it will be clear to the public and to my colleagues that any decisions I’m making or opinions I’m expressing are really intended to be in the best interest of the community, and not with my political future in mind.”