Residents in the Town of Bonnyville got a closer look at the five candidates running in the upcoming byelection during a public forum, where opening remarks and a wide-ranging question period highlighted key issues facing the community.
The byelection follows the passing of Councillor Brian McEvoy earlier this year, with voters set to choose a new representative on April 20.
Candidates delivered opening remarks in alphabetical order by last name, beginning with Christine (Tina) Michaud, before responding to questions from the audience.
Michaud: “I care deeply about this community”
Christine (Tina) Michaud opened by emphasizing her connection to Bonnyville and her desire to serve at the council table.
“I care deeply about this community. This is home,” Michaud said. “I want to be part of the decisions that shape where we’re going.”
She also spoke about listening to residents and bringing forward concerns she is hearing from families, particularly around affordability and the rising cost of living.
Midgley: “We need to be responsible and forward-thinking”
Jack Midgley focused his remarks on financial responsibility and long-term planning.
“We need to be responsible and forward-thinking,” Midgley said. “The decisions we make today are going to impact this town for years.”
He highlighted the importance of managing growth carefully while ensuring taxpayers are getting value from municipal spending.
Procinsky: “We have an opportunity to grow”
Michael Procinsky centred his message on growth and opportunity within the community.
“We have an opportunity to grow, but we need to do it the right way,” Procinsky said. “It’s about building something stronger for the future.”
He spoke about creating conditions that attract development and keep Bonnyville competitive.
Szydlik: “People want to be heard”
Yvonne Szydlik focused on communication and representation in her opening remarks.
“People want to be heard,” Szydlik said. “They want to know their voices matter.”
She stressed the importance of transparency and ensuring residents feel included in local decision-making.
Woods: “This is about giving back”
Kelly Woods closed out the opening round by highlighting her commitment to community service.
“This is about giving back,” Woods said. “Bonnyville has given a lot to me, and I want to step up.”
She pointed to the importance of practical, community-focused decisions at the council level.
Key issues raised during question period
Affordability and taxes
Rising costs and the impact on residents were a consistent theme throughout the discussion.
“People are already feeling stretched. Council decisions need to reflect that,” Michaud said.
“If we manage spending properly, we can reduce the pressure on taxpayers,” Midgley said.
Budgeting and spending
Questions around the Town’s budget focused on priorities and accountability.
“We need to make sure we’re spending in ways that actually move the community forward,” Procinsky said.
“People want to see their money going to things that matter to them,” Woods said.
Growth and development
Candidates were asked how Bonnyville can continue to grow while supporting both residents and local business.
“We need to make Bonnyville a place where businesses want to invest,” Procinsky said.
“Development has to make sense for the people who already live here,” Szydlik said.
Communication and transparency
Improving communication between council and residents was another key topic.
“People want to be informed and feel included in decisions,” Szydlik said.
“Council needs to be approachable and open with residents,” Woods said.
Representation and decision-making
Candidates also spoke about how they would approach representing the community at the council table.
“It starts with hearing what people are saying and bringing that forward,” Michaud said.
“Council has to make decisions that are fair and sustainable for the whole community,” Midgley said.
What separated the candidates
While candidates often addressed the same issues, differences emerged in how they spoke about those priorities.
On affordability, Michaud focused on the direct impact on residents, while Midgley connected cost pressures to overall spending decisions.
On budgeting, Procinsky emphasized investing in the community’s future, while Woods focused on ensuring spending reflects what matters most to residents.
On growth, Procinsky highlighted attracting business and investment, while Szydlik emphasized that development should align with the needs of current residents.
On communication, Szydlik focused on keeping residents informed and included, while Woods emphasized approachability and accessibility at the council level.
On representation, Michaud pointed to listening to residents as a starting point, while Midgley highlighted the importance of long-term, sustainable decision-making.
The forum provided voters with a clearer picture of each candidate’s priorities and approach ahead of election day, as Bonnyville prepares to select its next councillor.
Voting information
Advance voting continues this weekend for Bonnyville residents who want to cast their ballot early.
Advance voting will take place:
- Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Council Chambers at the Town Administration Office (4917–49 Avenue)
Election Day voting will be held:
- Monday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Town Administration Building (4917–49 Avenue)
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Bonnyville byelection candidates share priorities, face questions at community forum
Residents in the Town of Bonnyville got a closer look at the five candidates running in the upcoming byelection during a public forum, where opening remarks and a wide-ranging question period highlighted key issues facing the community.
The byelection follows the passing of Councillor Brian McEvoy earlier this year, with voters set to choose a new representative on April 20.
Candidates delivered opening remarks in alphabetical order by last name, beginning with Christine (Tina) Michaud, before responding to questions from the audience.
Michaud: “I care deeply about this community”
Christine (Tina) Michaud opened by emphasizing her connection to Bonnyville and her desire to serve at the council table.
“I care deeply about this community. This is home,” Michaud said. “I want to be part of the decisions that shape where we’re going.”
She also spoke about listening to residents and bringing forward concerns she is hearing from families, particularly around affordability and the rising cost of living.
Midgley: “We need to be responsible and forward-thinking”
Jack Midgley focused his remarks on financial responsibility and long-term planning.
“We need to be responsible and forward-thinking,” Midgley said. “The decisions we make today are going to impact this town for years.”
He highlighted the importance of managing growth carefully while ensuring taxpayers are getting value from municipal spending.
Procinsky: “We have an opportunity to grow”
Michael Procinsky centred his message on growth and opportunity within the community.
“We have an opportunity to grow, but we need to do it the right way,” Procinsky said. “It’s about building something stronger for the future.”
He spoke about creating conditions that attract development and keep Bonnyville competitive.
Szydlik: “People want to be heard”
Yvonne Szydlik focused on communication and representation in her opening remarks.
“People want to be heard,” Szydlik said. “They want to know their voices matter.”
She stressed the importance of transparency and ensuring residents feel included in local decision-making.
Woods: “This is about giving back”
Kelly Woods closed out the opening round by highlighting her commitment to community service.
“This is about giving back,” Woods said. “Bonnyville has given a lot to me, and I want to step up.”
She pointed to the importance of practical, community-focused decisions at the council level.
Key issues raised during question period
Affordability and taxes
Rising costs and the impact on residents were a consistent theme throughout the discussion.
“People are already feeling stretched. Council decisions need to reflect that,” Michaud said.
“If we manage spending properly, we can reduce the pressure on taxpayers,” Midgley said.
Budgeting and spending
Questions around the Town’s budget focused on priorities and accountability.
“We need to make sure we’re spending in ways that actually move the community forward,” Procinsky said.
“People want to see their money going to things that matter to them,” Woods said.
Growth and development
Candidates were asked how Bonnyville can continue to grow while supporting both residents and local business.
“We need to make Bonnyville a place where businesses want to invest,” Procinsky said.
“Development has to make sense for the people who already live here,” Szydlik said.
Communication and transparency
Improving communication between council and residents was another key topic.
“People want to be informed and feel included in decisions,” Szydlik said.
“Council needs to be approachable and open with residents,” Woods said.
Representation and decision-making
Candidates also spoke about how they would approach representing the community at the council table.
“It starts with hearing what people are saying and bringing that forward,” Michaud said.
“Council has to make decisions that are fair and sustainable for the whole community,” Midgley said.
What separated the candidates
While candidates often addressed the same issues, differences emerged in how they spoke about those priorities.
On affordability, Michaud focused on the direct impact on residents, while Midgley connected cost pressures to overall spending decisions.
On budgeting, Procinsky emphasized investing in the community’s future, while Woods focused on ensuring spending reflects what matters most to residents.
On growth, Procinsky highlighted attracting business and investment, while Szydlik emphasized that development should align with the needs of current residents.
On communication, Szydlik focused on keeping residents informed and included, while Woods emphasized approachability and accessibility at the council level.
On representation, Michaud pointed to listening to residents as a starting point, while Midgley highlighted the importance of long-term, sustainable decision-making.
The forum provided voters with a clearer picture of each candidate’s priorities and approach ahead of election day, as Bonnyville prepares to select its next councillor.
Voting information
Advance voting continues this weekend for Bonnyville residents who want to cast their ballot early.
Advance voting will take place:
- Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Council Chambers at the Town Administration Office (4917–49 Avenue)
Election Day voting will be held:
- Monday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Town Administration Building (4917–49 Avenue)
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