- Lakeland Connect

Last Updated: October 9, 2025By Jena Colbourne

Mayor Maureen Miller is wrapping up her second term and eight years as Mayor of the Town of St. Paul.

Lakeland Connect would like to congratulate Maureen as she “retires” from the head of the council table. Thank you for always being approachable, open, honest and supportive of our business and small businesses alike. We hope you enjoy your time away from politics, and we’d be glad to see you again should you ever dip your toes back into public life. — Chad, Jena and the entire Lakeland Connect team

A legacy of connection and collaboration

In her final Morning After conversation, Mayor Miller called her tenure a “silent, steady push.” The work, she said, wasn’t about chasing headlines but laying foundation stones that will carry St. Paul forward.

“I respect this council and administration,” she said. “We tied a bow around a number of things that might be background noise to people, but they set the community up for the future. I feel good walking away.”

From day one, Miller focused on people and culture — inside the town office and out in the community. “We needed compassion, collaboration and integrity at every level,” she said. “Walking into our town office feels different now, and that’s a reflection on our administration and council.”

Doing the grunt work, not the shinies

Asked about wins, Miller didn’t point to ribbon cuttings. She talked about the grind that makes a town resilient. Council ran more detailed ledgers to truly understand costs, built savings for infrastructure, and cut red tape so investment has a clear path.

“Investment doesn’t just show up anymore,” she said. “We reduced as much red tape as possible and made sure people can actually come and build. We didn’t chase shinies — we did the grunt work.”

That groundwork includes an industrial park positioned on Highway 881, a measured 1.5% tax increase tied to clear numbers, and shared systems with regional neighbours so teams can back each other up when needed. “We even aligned software between organisations so we can step in and help,” she said. “It sounds small, but it’s how you build capacity.”

Health care and seniors housing: years in the making

Miller lit up when speaking about regional health care. St. Paul, Bonnyville, Cold Lake and the County of St. Paul pulled together on physician recruitment and services. “We worked diligently so the whole region could be serviced,” she said, noting 15 signings between physicians and psychiatry during her time, and a restructured emergency department to improve triage and flow.

She also highlighted a long-running push for a 90-unit seniors complex. “Six years of devoted work,” she said. “We’ve ticked every provincial and federal box and are waiting on the green light. Projects like this take years, but they’re worth it.”

Collaboration as a habit

Over two terms, collaboration moved from slogan to standard practice. From joint planning and shared utilities to aligned priorities, Miller believes the region is stronger together. “All of our communities are winning because we chose to sit down and work it out,” she said. “We’ve continually upped the bar on what we can do for ourselves.”

Advice for the next council

With an election ahead, Miller’s parting message was simple and human. “Give yourself grace,” she said. “You’ll be bombarded with requests. Take time to learn the process before you criticise it. You’re one vote at the table — come in with an open mind and be willing to have your opinion changed.”

She also asked residents to offer patience. “We’re just regular people trying to move the community forward,” she said. “Social media isn’t always your friend. Remember the real rewards of serving your neighbours.”

A farewell, not goodbye

Looking back, Miller is proud of the position St. Paul is in today. “We’ve done an incredible amount of work that the community will see in time,” she said. “The projects are ready. The foundation is strong.”