It will be a mixture of youth and experience for the next four years on Delta council.
Saturday’s civic election saw four of Achieving for Delta’s six council candidates elected with Alicia Guichon topping the polls. She was followed by Lois Jackson, who won a council seat after 19 years as mayor, and former fire chief Dan Copeland. Dylan Kruger, who at 23 is the youngest person ever elected to council, claimed the sixth spot.
Finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, were incumbents Jeannie Kanakos and Bruce McDonald, who both ran on the Independents Working for You slate.
Guichon said she is honoured for the opportunity to serve the community on council.
“The 10 days before the election it started to sink in,” she said. “I went into this with no expectations. I knew I would work hard, give it my 100 per cent and see what happens. Once the advance polls came in I was shocked. I’m honestly overwhelmed by the support.
“With eight of our 11 team members between council and school board elected, it’s amazing.”
Copeland said after serving the community for 36 years as a firefighter and, more recently, as fire chief, he is humbled to have the opportunity to continue with his passion for public service.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity. We worked hard and talked to a lot of people,” said Copeland. “I see this role – public service – as an extension of my work with the fire department. I have a passion for public service and I’m looking forward to this role. I have a lot to learn about the process, but I’m up for this challenge.”
Kruger admitted the fact he is the youngest person ever to be elected to Delta council is still setting in.
“It’s a huge honour. I knew that I would have to work that much harder as a young person with less name recognition,” he said. “I think the big winners of Saturday are going to be young families in our community who will finally see themselves on council and have representation between Alicia and myself.
“When I look at the results and I see I’m on the same line as Lois E. Jackson who has been such a legend in our community for so many decades, it’s amazing to me. Throughout the campaign she was a huge support and mentor for me and I know she will continue to do so.”
Jackson said she is thrilled with the results and can’t wait to get to work with the new council.
“This new role is going to be a very good thing for me and hopefully the community as well,” said Jackson. “It’s time to pass the torch. I’ve very happy to take on the elder role. We are very lucky in this country of Canada that we have an example from First Nations who revere their elders in a way that puts them in the front. The First Nations go to their elders before they make major decisions so hopefully that will put us in good stead.”
McDonald admitted he was disappointed with the results.
“I had hopes that we could make a whole bunch of changes, but the people have spoken and you have to deal with what you deal with and you keep on trucking,” he said. “There is going to be a stiff learning curve for a lot of people. Will see where it goes.”
Kanakos called the results a new era for Delta.
“I think there is a balance on the new council because we have myself, Bruce and Lois and then some new people, and a mayor who has experience at city hall,” she said. “Hopefully we will get things done, develop some relationships and go from there.”
Harvie said one of the first orders of business is to sit down and put what at times was a divisive campaign in the past and move forward in a positive way.
“We’ll be reaching out and working with them [Kanakos and McDonald], and show respect for both those individuals,” said Harvie. “I worked well with them as their city manager and I expect to work well with them as the mayor. I believe they will put this election behind and move forward and serve the community and do what’s best for the City of Delta.”
