Taynor Simpson has been re-elected as Chief of Alderville First Nation and will lead a newly expanded council of six.
Joining him are councillors Lisa McDonald, Joanne Smoke, Kassie McKeown, Jason Marsden and Amber Crowe.
Reflecting on his first term, Simpson points to progress on affordable housing and a major environmental effort to secure legal personhood status for Rice Lake.
Simpson says a major priority for this term will be economic and visual transformation, including the construction of a new administration office along Hwy. 45 and rebranding efforts to help Alderville assert its place as a vibrant and growing community.
While a casino was once considered for Alderville, the community rejected the idea in a referendum. Simpson says the Nation is instead pursuing own-source revenue through treaty-based partnerships, especially with infrastructure projects like OPG’s nuclear expansions.
As for leadership style, Simpson distances himself from traditional political models. He says the role of Ogimaa or chief is grounded in Indigenous values.
Simpson says the next three years will focus on steady progress and building a community everyone can be proud of.
For more information, visit www.alderville.ca.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
