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New mayor and council sworn in

New to the council table are Bill Kershaw, and Amanda Sabyan, and new to the mayor’s chair is Bill Humphreys.
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Barriere’s newly sworn in Mayor Bill Humphreys signs his name after taking the oath of office with Judge Stephen Harrison during the District’s Inaugural Meeting held on Dec. 5

For the third time since the incorporation of the District of Barriere mayor and council were sworn in for the upcoming term.  This year four councillors are now serving their third term for the municipality; Pat Paula, Virginia Smith, Ward Stamer and Glen Stanley.

New to the council table are Bill Kershaw, and Amanda Sabyan, and new to the mayor’s chair is Bill Humphreys.

The Inaugural Meeting of Municipal Council took place on Monday, Dec. 5, at the Ridge gymnasium.

An honour guard consisting of Simpcw First Nation Elder and drum player Sam Saul, RCMP Cpl. Darryl Underwood, District Fire Chief Al Kirkwood, Judge Stephen Harrison, and Pastor Todd English led the new mayor and council into the room.

Saul then gave a traditional blessing for the meeting and for the new mayor and council, followed by a prayer from Pastor Todd English.

Council oaths of office and signatures were then given to Judge Harrison.

When the oaths concluded, Mike Fennell, who served two terms as the first Mayor of the municipality, passed the District’s gavel to Mayor Humphreys.

Fennell congratulated the Mayor, saying, “I hope that you and the new council will work together as a team to move Barriere forward and provide a better quality of life for everyone here.

“I found out, and I am sure you will, that the Mayor doesn’t always get his own way with Council. Some things that come to mind are; 400 acres for a dollar, the Anglican Church, and clover in the parks.

“As I pass you this gavel I charge you with running your meetings fairly, letting everyone be heard, and remembering you represent everyone in Barriere.”

Humphreys thanked the Mayor for coming to pass the gavel, “..and for standing by your promise not to throw it.”

In the Mayoral inaugural address Humphreys stated, “As we face the future we must remember that simply wanting something will not make it happen.  We must take considered decisive action to succeed.  Barriere is a great place to live.  The people of Barriere are what made it that way in the past as well as today.

“Barriere’s future is limitless if we all work hard, work together, and believe in our strengths....

“I ask for your patience. Some things take time.  We have a range of voices and opinions in the Council Chamber, because no one of us has all the answers.  All voices must be heard.  This takes time and compromise to work.

“Secondly I ask for your perseverance.  We are in this together, for the duration.  Together we will succeed and the load will be lighter with your help.

“A wise person once said; “If everyone will give a little, no one will have to give too much”.  As a council we face some hard truths and tough choices ahead.  Our District’s current situation is difficult though not insurmountable.  As a council we need to look for better and smarter ways to meet our responsibilities to you the people of Barriere.”