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Three new faces on Viking Council Patricia Harcourt Editor
There are three new faces on Viking Council following the release of unofficial election results. The general municipal election was held on Monday, Oct. 20. In the total of five councillors elected, three newcomers and two incumbents garnered the most votes. Incumbents Judy Acres received 253 votes and James Buttner 175, earning them a seat at the new council table. Buttner was the last to serve as an elected mayor, whose position was eliminated at the end of the last term. The new four-year term will include five councillors instead of the previous council with four councillors and an elected mayor. And all three challengers to the former councillors received enough votes to also win a council seat. That includes Timothy Goodison with 233 votes, Cole Harasyn-O’Neill with 240 votes, and Paul King with 293 votes. Two incumbents failed to get re-elected including Dana Ewashko with 138 votes and Cindy Lefsrud with 135 votes. A fifth incumbent, Julianna Merta, who was deputy mayor when the election was called, did not run for another term. Once the new council is sworn in, an organizational meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 27. At that time, the council will elect a mayor from within its ranks for a one-year term. This is the way most villages also elect their mayors in the province. Returning Officer Doug Lefsrud, also the chief administrative officer (CAO) for the Town of Viking, stated that the Town of Viking passed a bylaw in December of 2023, Bylaw No. 2023-724, that was adopted by Viking Council for the appointment of the Chief Elected Official, CEO, which is normally called the position of mayor, from among the elected councillors. “At the first organizational meeting of this new council they will vote among themselves and appoint one councillor to the position of mayor,” stated Returning Officer/CAO Lefsrud.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Volume 48, Issue 42
2025
MUNICIPAL ELECTION One newcomer for Irma Council Patricia Harcourt Editor
Five out of six candidates running for Irma Village Council were elected after Monday’s general municipal election. The candidates included four incumbents who were re-running and two new challengers. Unofficial results show four winners were incumbents Mervin Firkus with 110 votes, Eric Nissen with 102 votes, James Schubada with 108
votes, and Michael Soucy with 120 votes. New candidate Kelly Pauls was also elected with 103 votes. Richard Langley was unsuccessful in his bid for council with 32 votes. This completes the cohort of five councillors required for the next four-year term 2025-2029. Total ballots cast were 129, stated the village’s returning officer in her unofficial posting of the voting results.
Holden returns two incumbents and elects three new councillors Patricia Harcourt Editor
The general municipal election held Monday, Oct. 20 unofficial results have resulted in two incumbents being returned to office and three new councillors elected. Out of a field of eight candidates, five were elected for the 2025-2029 municipal term in office to represent the villagers of Holden. Incumbents Tyler Beckett,and Shawn Cole will serve for the next four years. New candidates Tammy Lynn Hill, Carl Marsh and Alan Ramshaw were also successful in their election bid. Unsuccessful candidates included Graeme
Duckworth, Mark Giebelhaus and incumbent John Markel. The unofficial vote breakdown includes the following: Tyler Beckett (incumbent) - 47 votes ELECTED; Shawn Cole (incumbent) - 30 ELECTED; Graeme Duckworth - 27 votes; Mark Giebelhaus - 28 votes; Tammy Lynn Hill - 40 votes ELECTED; John Markel (incumbent) - 13 votes; Carl Marsh - 33 votes ELECTED; Alan Ramshaw - 39 votes ELECTED. Returning Officer Christine Mackay reported voter turnout included 71 persons voting.