Darlene Angeconeb appointed new municipal councillor

Tim Brody - Editor

Darlene Angeconeb will become the Municipality of Sioux Lookout’s newest municipal councillor when she takes the Oath of Office at the August 13th Regular Council Meeting.
Angeconeb was appointed to the role following discussion and decision at the July 16th Regular Council meeting after a councillor seat became vacant when former Council Member, Luc Beaulne resigned for personal reasons on June 25th. 
The Municipality of Sioux Lookout explained in a July 21 media release, “According to Ontario’s Municipal Act, Council must decide whether to fill the vacancy through a by-election or by appointment for the remainder of the council term within 60 days of declaring the Council seat vacant. Considering the cost of a By-election would be approximately $35,000 and there is just over one year remaining in the current Council Term, Council determined filling the vacancy by appointment was the preferable and most fiscally responsible option.” 
The Municipality further informed, “When Council decides to appoint a person to a vacant Council seat, the appointee must consent to the appointment and must be eligible to hold office. At the direction of Council, Mayor Doug Lawrance and CAO & Clerk Brian MacKinnon met with Darlene Angeconeb, who has accepted the appointment to the vacant seat.” 
Sioux Lookout Mayor Doug Lawrance commented, “Darlene will be a great addition to Council. She has been actively engaged with Municipal Committees and Boards for over a decade. Now she will have even greater opportunities to shape the future of our community as a Councillor.” 
The Municipality shared that, in addition to her leadership on the Municipal Truth and Reconciliation Committee for the past 10 years, and as the Chair of the Police Services Board (now the Sioux Lookout OPP Detachment Board) for the past five years, Darlene Angeconeb was the recipient of the Sioux Lookout Rotary Club’s Jack McKenzie Award in 2021, in recognition of selfless dedication to the community and its people. She is a member of Lac Seul First Nation, born in Sioux Lookout, and is a residential school survivor. 
“I am honoured to serve the role of Municipal Councillor,” Angeconeb stated.