WESTLOCK –The Village of Clyde finally has its full, five-member council.
Alma Cruise Irwin was the sole candidate to put her name forward for the vacant seat on council and was acclaimed June 15, as the newest councillor in the village. She was sworn in during a ceremony prior to a policies and procedures council meeting June 20.
Irwin fills the vacancy following two failed byelections and what would have been a third since the municipal election last October
The council seat opened in early January when deputy mayor Patricia Hamaluk resigned and a byelection was scheduled for March 22. The village did not receive any nominations so another byelection was called for July 11.
Clyde mayor Charis Logan Aquirre was pleased to see the seat filled after several months with just four council members, including the mayor.
“We’re definitely really pleased that someone finally stepped forward and to have them join us on council,” said Logan Aquirre. “We’ll get to officially meet her (Monday) and welcome her.”
Irwin moved to Clyde from central Ontario in early July 2021 and had considered running in last fall’s municipal election. Being new to the area, however, she chose to wait for another opportunity and a time when she knew the community and its people better. The opportunity came knocking again two more times.
“When it came up again, I said if this isn’t a calling, I’m just going to dive in and see what I can do,” said Irwin. “COVID has lifted so I’ve had the opportunity to meet people, to get around and see what Clyde is all about, what Westlock is like and the surrounding area.”
While Irwin has never served as a municipal politician, she does bring years of experience as a long-time volunteer and member of several community organizations and groups. She felt she had experience and skills in various areas and wanted to put them to good use.
Today, she is a retired controller and account manager with Schott Gemtron Canada Corp. and said she moved west for a new adventure and was drawn to the familiar, rural areas around Clyde.
“I was born and raised in a small town about the same size as Westlock. I’m a farmer and it’s a farming community and I love it in Clyde,” she said. “It’s really quite nice here.”
Irwin has enjoyed meeting people and being a part of the Clyde community and wants local residents to know that she will be a dependable, hard-working councillor who will be a viable part of the community.
“If I can make a change or if I can make things better for everyone, I’ll be very happy to do that,” said Irwin.
