The new council in the town of Wainwright is getting down to business with recently elected Mayor Bruce Pugh at the helm.
Pugh is now in his ninth year on council and his first four year term as mayor. He has a background of nearly three decades in education and will retain his administrative post with the Buffalo Trail Public Schools.
He recognizes the challenges going forward as he looks to attract new business enterprise to the area.
“I think Wainwright is emerging as a regional centre. I think we have a young, educated population. We are able to offer services accompanied by a lower cost of living than other likesized communities in our province.”
Pugh highlights what he terms the balanced strength of their economy with agriculture, the oil patch and the Department of National Defense at CFB Wainwright.
He says together with the new council, he is looking to getting at the work ahead.
“I’m really excited. I’m looking forward to working with our different community partners. The mayor of Lloydminster has already reached out to me to congratulate. I think we are starting to see things through the lens of a more cooperative nature. Because if east-central Alberta is successful, and that’s all of us in this part of the province, then as individuals it naturally follows that we are successful as well.”
Pugh is reminding that east-central Alberta contributes to the province as well, and to federal partners that Alberta is a very capable and willing member of the confederation.