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Mayor & Council
Mayor Tyler Gandam
Office: 780.361.4409 | Cell: 780.312.0660 | Email | Facebook | Twitter
Tyler Gandam has been on Council since 2013, first as a councillor and now as a second-term mayor. A funeral director by trade, Tyler has also served with the local fire department since 2001. He loves Wetaskiwin for its people who are always willing to help, volunteer, and donate to those in need.
Tyler is also the vice-president for cities under 500,000 with Alberta Municipalities (formally AUMA) and a governor with Alberta Municipal Service Corporation (AMSC).
Tyler married his beautiful wife, Miranda, in the summer of 2016 at Stanley Park in Vancouver, BC, and they welcomed their daughter, Adley, in March 2021.
Tyler currently represents the City on the following boards and committees:
- Agenda Review Committee
- Emergency Advisory Committee
- Joint City/School Board Committee
- Central Alberta Mayors
- Intermunicipal Relations Committee
- Mid-Size City Mayors
- Northern Alberta Mayors/Reeves
Councillor Karen Aberle
Ph: 780.361.4409 | Email Karen
Deputy Mayor for January/February 2024
Dr. Karen Aberle is originally from Treaty 7 Territory, having been born and raised in Calgary. Now living, working, and volunteering in Treaty 6 Territory and the Métis Region 4 and is working towards better understanding and fulfilling her Treaty responsibilities and pursuing meaningful reconciliation. Karen’s educational background is in Archaeology/Anthropology and Classics (Greek and Roman Studies) in which she earned a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of British Columbia in 2012.
Dr. Aberle moved to Wetaskiwin in 2013 to run the Wetaskiwin District Heritage Museum Centre and has helped organize many community events including Canada’s Agriculture Day, Canada Day, Orange Shirt Day, Celebrating our First Communities, Sisters in Spirit, and Taste of Wetaskiwin. She also volunteers with a variety of projects and assists other non-profit groups with their events and fundraising. Karen is currently a member of the Wetaskiwin Arts and Music Festival, as well as an LGBTQ2S+ ally and advocate. Dr. Aberle is dedicated to using her experience to help make Wetaskiwin stronger and a place we are all proud to call home, and is humbled by the community’s trust to serve them as one of their elected representatives.
Karen currently represents the City on the following boards and committees:
- Assessment Review Board
- Emergency Advisory Committee
- Memorial Fund Society
- Peace Hills Utilities Board
- Subdivision and Development Appeal Board
Councillor Dean Billingsley
Ph: 780.361.4409 | Email Dean
Deputy Mayor for March/April 2024
Councillor Billingsley is currently in his second term on Wetaskiwin City Council and is an active and engaged member of the community. Prior to joining City Council, Councillor Billingsley had owned a local business for 25 years and worked for a well-known car dealership on the world-famous Wetaskiwin Auto Mile. Councillor Billingsley has lived in Wetaskiwin since 1991 and raised his family here.
When asked why he ran for council, Dean stated he "felt compelled to contribute to our community in a way that had an immediate impact. In that first term, [he] was proud to have been part of the team who challenged Administration to find savings that have totaled more than one million dollars to-date." Going forward, he wants to continue to find ways for our community grow to help reduce the tax burden to all citizens.
The main reason Dean calls Wetaskiwin home is the people. Wetaskiwin is a community rich in dedicated, determined, and friendly people who have made Wetaskiwin the city that it is today. Dean is proud to call Wetaskiwin home as it offers his family everything they need.
Dean currently represents the City on the following boards and committees:
- Central Alberta Economic Partnership
- Emergency Advisory Committee
- Intermunicipal Relations Committee
- Peace Hills Utilities Board
Councillor Gabrielle Blatz
Ph: 780.361.4409 | Email Gabrielle | Facebook
Deputy Mayor for November/December 2023
Gabrielle was elected to her second consecutive term in office as councillor in October 2021. Gabrielle has lived in both the County and City of Wetaskiwin for the majority of her life. She works at the Wetaskiwin, Ponoka, and Centennial Centre Hospitals as a lab assistant, and has been in this profession since she graduated from Red Deer College in 2015. Gabrielle is passionate about her community, and loves Wetaskiwin’s diversity, inclusivity, and the strong sense of community this city provides.
Gabrielle currently represents the City on the following boards and committees:
- Emergency Advisory Committee
- Family and Community Support Services Board
- Memorial Fund Society
Councillor Joe Branco
Ph: 780.679.4899 | Email Joe
Deputy Mayor for July/August 2024
Joe Branco, born in 1959 in the Azores, Portugal, immigrated to Canada in 1967 and settled in Galt, Ontario (now Cambridge, Ontario) before moving to Wetaskiwin in 1978. Married to Nancy, they have four sons and anticipate the arrival of two grandchildren this spring.
Outside of Council, Joe loves to travel, cook, and collect vintage cars.
Joe currently represents the City on the following boards and committees:
- Emergency Advisory Committee
- Wetaskiwin and Area Lodge Authority
- Wetaskiwin Public Library Board
Councillor Bill Elliot
Ph: 780.361.4409 | Email Bill
Deputy Mayor for September/October 2024
Councillor Elliot returned to city council after a four year hiatus. Bill previously served 21 years as a councillor and seven years as mayor, and continues to contribute to his community through various volunteer boards including Horizons Centre, the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation, the BGC, and Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. Bill’s chosen career was education, and he spent 32 years as a teacher/principal.
Bill has lived in Wetaskiwin for 50 years and he and his wife, Arlene, have four children, six grand children, and three great grandchildren (with another one on the way).
The main reason for running — again — for council, was to help heal the divide in our community and have people speak positively about our wonderful city. If we can project an image of unity, pride, and being a safe community, businesses and investors will come to our city. The more businesses we have, the lower residential taxes will be.
Bill currently represents the City on the following boards and committees:
- Assessment Review Board
- Emergency Advisory Committee
- Memorial Fund Society
- Subdivision and Development Appeal Board
- Intermunicipal Relations Committee
- Joint City/School Board Committee
- Regional Community Safety and Well-Being Committee
- Wetaskiwin Public Library Board
- Yellowhead Regional Library Board
Councillor Wayne Neilson
Ph: 780.361.4409 | Email Wayne
Deputy Mayor May/June 2024
Wayne has lived in Wetaskiwin for nearly 40 years with his wife, Carol. Together, they raised their two (now grown) children and are enjoying their four grandsons. Prior to retiring, Wayne was the principal of Wetaskiwin Composite High School and has always been involved in volunteering, teaching, and coaching in the community. He is a huge advocate for what he calls a "tremendous community" filled with outstanding citizens and business leaders.
Wayne is now serving his third term as councillor and enjoys the challenge of trying to make the best decisions possible to improve, grow, and market the City.
Wayne currently represents the City on the following boards and committees:
- Emergency Advisory Committee
- Family and Community Support Services Board
- Peace Hills Utilities Board
- Wetaskiwin and Area Lodge Authority