Grande Prairie's Interim Mayor Jackie Clayton (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

By Shaun Penner

GP's New Mayor

Clayton honoured by Interim Mayor appointment, becoming first female Mayor of Grande Prairie

Jan 4, 2021 | 3:46 PM

City Council has unanimously voted in favour of naming Councillor Jackie Clayton Grande Prairie’s Interim Mayor, following the resignation of Bill Given back on New Year’s Eve.

Clayton will fill the interim role for a term ending October 18, 2021, which is the date of the next municipal election. Clayton fills the vacancy left by Given, who formally resigned on December 31 to become the new Chief Administrative Officer in the Municipality of Jasper.

Clayton says she is thrilled her colleagues have chosen to promote her into the role.

“I’m really looking forward to the next months ahead. It’s, albeit a short time, but it’s a great honour to serve with my fellow councillors and represent our great city.”

The appointment also makes Clayton the first woman to serve in the role of Mayor for the City of Grande Prairie, an honour she is very excited to receive.

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“There’s been many, many great female leaders within our community over the years, and it’s been an honour to work with some great female councillors in this term and last term,” said Clayton. “But to be the Interim Mayor is really a great honour.”

As the Municipal Government Act lays out, a byelection is not necessary within 12 months of the next municipal election. City Manager Horacio Galanti also pointed out during council’s meeting on Monday that a byelection to find a new Mayor to finish out this term would cost between $150,000 and $200,000, with a result not likely until at least March.

Though her seven other council colleagues voted unanimously in favour of appointing her to the role, Clayton says a strong collaborative approach will be taken to achieve their goals over the next 10 months.

“We have a great group of eight councillors that represent a diversity of community views, and all of them are willing to take on an increased leadership role,” said Clayton. “Considering the challenges of COVID, we’ll really need to rally together to help support the 2021 recovery “

Clayton and the rest of council also took time during Monday’s meeting to thank Given for his nearly two decades serving on Grande Prairie City Council.

“Mayor Given was a great representative of our community, and he will be very hard to replace,” added Clayton.

“I look forward (that) if I need to call him in Jasper, that he will pick up the phone because I know that he still truly cares about our community and about our council.”

Clayton says economic recovery will b at the top of the list for council in 2021, and she adds she is looking forward to working with the provincial government in achieving some economic recovery programs.

However, she will be dealing with a new Minister of Municipal Affairs, as Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard resigned from the role on Monday after mounting public pressure from her holiday trip to Hawaii.

Clayton said Allard has a lot of work to do to regain the trust of her constituents in the Swan City but adds she does believe Allard is remorseful for her decision.

“I do take Tracy’s word that she regrets her decision to travel out of Canada, however, I believe that she will continue to show the community her commitment to COVID recovery.”