Jim Woodward, County of Athabasca

Phone: (780) 675-5613

E-mail: jimwoodward@live.com

Jim Woodward is recently retired as the County Manager, County of Athabasca and has been involved in municipal government work since 1980. He has developed numerous cooperative service delivery mechanisms with other municipalities. A member of SLGM, past president of ARMAA, Jim was Awarded the R.W. Hay Award for excellence in municipal administration, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and the Order of Athabasca University. He is a member of the Athabasca Rotary Club and was also awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by the Club.

“I enjoy working with councils to help them determine their goals and how to pursue them,’ Jim says. “I like the people aspect, the visioning, the big picture.”

Jim says he tends to receive peer mentor calls related to issues between council and the CAO, landowner issues, and relationships between council and staff. Peer mentoring involves dealing with some disagreement or conflict and Jim has developed a number of processes over his career that has worked for him. “My role as a peer mentor is to suggest some practices or approaches, and get the client to look at alternate dispute resolution,” he says. Jim asks them questions to help them arrive at their own course of action. “It usually boils down to effective communication,” he says.

Al Harvey, Lamont County

Phone: (780) 895-2233

E-mail: allan.h@tclamont.ca

Al Harvey has seen much of Alberta over his municipal government career. In his youth, he was interested in sports and athletics and began his career as a recreation director. Moving up the ladder to CAO has been a natural evolution for Al, but the end goals have stayed the same: helping people and building communities.

Currently CAO of Lamont County, Al has certificates in local government, Senior Executive Fellows, Local Government Leadership, and National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration.  He is well known as a strong communicator and an active listener. Wherever he has been located, he has appreciated the local culture – from the mixture of French, Cree and Ukrainian in Bonnyville to the closeness of smaller towns such as Consort.

He notes that every day there is some form of conflict going on in municipal government – between staff, between public and staff, between elected officials, and between staff and elected officials. Often old problems never get effectively resolved. He believes that all municipal staff should have training in mediation, negotiation and dispute resolution.

“Being a peer mentor allowed me to get trained to do what I was already doing unofficially,” according to Al. “Other CAOs phone me for assistance, help and ideas. I help them with the process, rather than give them a direct answer.

“Often, there are many ways to accomplish the same thing – my way may not be the right way for someone else. But there is often a basic underlying theory. It’s like a wheel, where you might need to change a spoke here or there. For example, many municipalities might have an animal control bylaw, but their approach might be different. In some cases, other departments in a particular municipality might be able to offer some solutions, as well.”

Derril Butler, Lac Ste. Anne County

Phone: (780) 967-5256

E-mail: dbutler@gov.lacsteanne.ab.ca

Currently Reeve of Lac Ste. Anne County, Derril Butler has been a municipal elected official since 1995. Before that, he had a very ‘eclectic’ career. In addition to running a farm, he spent 13 years as an English professor at the University of Alberta, and then 15 years in a professional opera that toured western Canada. “When a neighbour called to ask me to run,” he says. “I didn’t think I had a hope of getting elected, but I did.”

As an elected official, Derril has found that there has been lots to learn about county politics. “It is endlessly fascinating to see how human relationships work, how people communicate, how council operates and cooperates,” he notes.

Derrill sees his peer mentor role as a continuation of past work. During his university career, he facilitated communications workshops. He still encourages people to take responsibility for their feelings and encourages them to speak out. Honesty and openness are the best policy, he believes. A good facilitation does not present answers; it sets the tone to encourage honesty and directness. They are often key to problem.

Shirley Reinhart, Wheatland County

Phone: (403) 533-2124

Shirley Reinhart is Deputy Reeve of Wheatland County and has been in municipal politics since 1992 when she was elected a Golden Hills School Division trustee and municipal councilor. As a parent, she had always been involved in her children’s school activities and when her last child finished high school, she decided to get involved on the political side. “We’re still facing the same issues we faced then,” she says, “roads, schools and planning – but the issues are larger now.”

Shirley is past chair of the Zone 5 Alberta School Board Association, past Executive Member of the Alberta Mental Health Board and is continually involved in a number of municipal organizations.

In her job as Deputy Reeve, Shirley has gained significant experience trying to balance agricultural interests with fast-paced urban sprawl. Her psychology degree in her ‘first life’ has given her an understanding of human nature, helping her lead councillors through some challenging issues. She also has wisdom and perspective that she can share with other female elected officials and with women considering entering the political arena. She looks forward to helping other elected officials in her role as peer mentor.

Terry Hager, Lacombe County

Phone: (403) 782-6601 (office)

E-mail: thager@lacombecounty.com

A career municipal administrator, Terry Hager has 30 years of senior local government management experience and is currently County Commissioner of Lacombe County. With a Business Diploma from SAIT, Certificate in Local Government Management and Senior Executive Fellows Program “With Distinction”, Terry feels fortunate that he found a career that is both challenging and rewarding.

“I like the variety of work,” he says, “from planning to public works and agriculture services. There’s never a dull moment.” Terry continues to work on his golf game and enjoys time with his granddaughter.  

Terry says he gets as much or more out of the interaction with other colleagues and councilors than he provides. “Every time you talk to somebody, you collect a little more knowledge,” he says. “You get a new view of the world and gain valuable experience that is useful in dealing with issues at home.

The professional development available to peer mentors is excellent and offers the necessary framework for dealing with complex issues. They would be beneficial to anyone who works in government.”

Norbert Van Wyk

Phone: (780) 418-4457

E-mail: nvanwyk@shaw.ca

Retired city manager Norbert Van Wyk takes a proactive approach to peer mentoring. For him, it is an informal process. At conferences and meetings, he seeks out small groups and individuals and engages them in discussing issues. He also picks up the phone when he hears about a municipality experiencing a problem. “Municipal administrators are a very small community,” he notes. “We hear very quickly about what is happening”.

Norbert has worked in public administration since 1971.  His public administration career started at the University of Western Ontario followed by the City of London.  In 1980, he and his family moved to Alberta where he worked for the City of St. Albert for 18 years followed by the City of Red Deer for 9 years.  He was City Manager in St. Albert for 8 years and City Manager in Red Deer for 9 years.  He retired in 2006 and relocated to St. Albert for his retirement.  In retirement he continues to be a member of several Boards.

“I’ve always had a strong interest in public administration,” he says.  “I found the breadth of issues attractive. In each municipality there are often 12-15 unique businesses, so the work offers a great deal of variety and lots of challenges to bring that all together.”

His advice for those just starting out: “Do something that is a little bit different on the side, to help you learn about other perspectives.” Norbert did a lot of volunteering with United Way, sat on boards and assisted with campaigns.

Judy Woyewitka, Town of Vermilion

Phone: (780) 853-5166

Email: judywoy@telusplanet.net

Judy Woyewitka recently retired from her 12 year tenure as Mayor of the Town of Vermilion after serving as a councilor for the 9 years previous. In 2005, Judy received the Alberta Centennial Medal for outstanding service to the people and province of Alberta.

Before entering into politics, Judy spent over 30 years working with Lakeland College in a number of positions including Registrar, Marketing Manger and Coordinator of Academic Advising. Judy’s common sense approach to problem solving and her ability to develop and maintain solid partnerships are but two of the strengths that made her so successful.

Judy has served on a number of boards that stress the importance of working together. This included working with the Alberta Economic Development Authority, TransCanada Yellowhead Highway Association and the Northeast Alberta Information HUB.  In reference to the Regional Economic Development Alliances, to which she was the chair, she was able to connect with 33 communities, First Nations and Metis Settlements.  “It was a good first step,” says Judy Woyewitka. “It gave them a chance to voice their issues.” Through her vision, her ability to think outside the box and her commitment to develop partnerships, the town achieved a 40 unit assisted living residence/facility, a regional transfer station and a regional conferencing center to name a few.

Judy has excellent organizational and management skills and brings a strong economic development perspective as it relates to rural Alberta to all projects she is involved in. She is approachable, willing to listen and can give sound, no-nonsense advice.