Board member profile: Angela Duncan

This week’s Board profile shines a light on Angela Duncan, Alberta Municipalities’ Director of Villages West and Vice-President of Villages and Summer Villages. She was first elected to the Village of Alberta Beach’s council in 2013, and became mayor in October 2021.

What attracted you to join the ABmunis board?

I joined Alberta Municipalities’ board of directors during my second term on village council for two reasons. First, I realized the value that ABmunis delivers to all Alberta communities – especially those who are actively engaged with our association. Second, I saw it as an excellent opportunity to learn more about, and excel in, my role as an elected official, meet new people, gather new ideas, and showcase my community.

What are you most proud of in your time in municipal politics?

From a local perspective, I am proud that the councils in which I have participated have brought people closer together. We have been champions for our community, our community organizations and volunteers, our businesses, and our residents. As a result, many of these groups have become our champions. I am proud of how we always work towards consensus, even when it sometimes seems we are kilometres apart.

From an ABmunis perspective, I am proud of how we have continued to build and strengthen our member engagement, as well as how our association advocated for all Alberta communities through the economic downturn and the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am also very honoured to have played an integral part in our association’s new branding and name change in 2021. I hope our new brand and name inspires our members for decades to come.

Which of Alberta Municipalities’ products & services does your municipality take advantage of? Why? What value have you received from them?

Alberta Beach takes advantage of ABmunis’ benefits services, as well as ABmunis’ energy retail program. Alberta Municipalities’ knowledge of municipal, operations and needs, means that ABmunis can provide excellent value and customer services based on every municipality’s unique situation.

What would you like your colleagues in other municipalities to know about ABmunis?

Alberta Municipalities is member-driven. Just like our tagline says, we find “strength in members”. The association values and listens to the feedback from all communities, no matter how big or how small, and tries to find the best advocacy and business solutions based on what our members tell us. We always listen and consider every perspective and then work towards the best path forward.

As a Board Member of Alberta Municipalities & an elected official, what excites you about the future of municipalities in Alberta?

Alberta has vast potential. I am so excited that municipalities get to be on the ground level of everything that is going on. We know what our communities need because we are an active part of our them. As municipalities, Alberta, Canada and the rest of the world move forward in the rapidly changing 21st century, we get to listen to our communities and make changes that benefit todays’ residents and generations to come.