On behalf of the Village of Canal Flats’ council and staff, happy new year! 

It has been a whirlwind few months since being elected mayor in 2022 and there is much more to come. 

I chose to run for mayor at the encouragement of friends and family because I wanted to be a part of improving our community.  

I especially wanted to see more transparency and communication from staff and council as well as see more young people and young families choose to make Canal Flats their home.  

I’ve lived here most of my life and raised my children here and would love to see others experience the connectedness of the village that I have.  

Since being sworn in in November I have learned a lot, especially about the relationship between the village and the Regional District of East Kootenay. Now that I am a director for the regional district I have seen how much support they provide our community.  

I have also been able to see first-hand the dedication, passion and professionalism of the village’s staff. 

I was also able to attend the opening of our childcare centre in December, a huge milestone in the village and an important part of ensuring families have support for many years to come.  

I have also been thrilled to work with our new council. They are energetic, business-minded and have a wide variety of experience and ideas they bring to the table.  

Entering 2023 with my first term as mayor ahead of me, there is much to look forward to. 

Recently, council, staff and I spent time identifying strategic priorities for the village that support our Official Community Plan. These priorities will guide staff’s work in the coming year. We also spent time narrowing down the village’s vision statement to create something we can all keep in mind as our community grows.  

We are looking forward to sharing it all with you soon and hearing your thoughts after we put the finishing touches on it this month. 

If we haven’t had the chance to speak yet, please contact me with questions or concerns anytime. You are also always welcome to attend council meetings and ask questions about our work.  

Sincerely,  

Mayor Mark Doherty 

mayor.doherty@canalflats.ca