COLD LAKE – After more than two decades on City of Cold Lake council, Mayor Craig Copeland has been honoured with the Alberta Municipalities Distinguished Service Award.
The award, presented at the Alberta Municipalities Annual Convention and Trade Show in September, recognizes elected officials who have served their communities with dedication, innovation, and distinction.
"Each year at the Alberta Municipalities Annual Convention and Trade Show, outstanding municipal professionals from across Alberta are awarded for their collaboration, dedication and commitment to excellence," according to information from Alberta Municipalities. The awards "acknowledge and congratulate leaders who have demonstrated innovation and distinction in their respective municipalities and communities.”
Copeland was first elected as a councillor in 2004 and then became mayor in 2007.
He explains his entry into municipal politics was driven by a personal experience. "I got involved because my parents' house had sewage come into the basement, and I met with City staff to find out why," he shares. "So, I thought I would get involved in making decisions."
During his time on council, Copeland has seen the city’s population grow by more than 35 per cent.
He played a role in securing the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range Agreement, bringing over $125 million in revenue to the City of Cold Lake, according to Alberta Municipalities. His efforts also extended to projects like the development of the Cold Lake Energy Centre, upgrades to Kinosoo Beach, and various infrastructure improvements.
Reflecting on the city’s growth, Copeland says, "I’m not surprised we've experienced that growth. Certainly, it's a great mixture of people and work - with the oil patch increasing in terms of the barrels of oil that we're producing at the Cold Lake Oil Sands."
He sees 4 Wing Cold Lake as a significant driver of future growth in the region, stating, “It's going to be probably our biggest driver in the next 10 years."
Despite these successes, Copeland acknowledges the challenges Cold Lake faces, particularly in terms of infrastructure and finances.
"The biggest challenge really is the size of the city. It's a very spread-out municipality from south to north," he explains. “We desperately need the province to come in and have a hard look at communities like ours to maybe give us an extra funding boost."
Financial sustainability is a critical concern for Copeland, who expresses frustration over dwindling provincial support.
“We've had less and less money coming in from the province for municipalities. It is probably one of my biggest concerns right now… more reliance on the taxpayer to operate.”
He also highlights the difficulty of maintaining services while keeping taxes manageable, noting, “It’s not sustainable to keep raising property tax, you know, five per cent every year.”
Despite these challenges, Copeland remains proud of his accomplishments, especially when it comes to community projects.
“Kinosoo Beach certainly is fantastic. I mean, it's really been a focal point . . . I'm a five-year-old at heart, so I believe that having facilities, whether it's the beach or recreation for the kids to keep them busy, I think is really important.”
Copeland's tenure has been marked by his focus on community-driven projects and a collaborative approach to leadership.
"I'm kind of what you call a consensus mayor. I try to bring everybody along for the ride and work with everybody's ideas," he says. His legacy also includes initiatives like the Cold Lake Bike Park, which was built in collaboration with local users and supported by City funding.
As he reflects on his time as mayor, Copeland remains optimistic but realistic about the challenges ahead.
“Without some intervention from the province, it's going to be a challenge for not only Cold Lake but most municipalities to keep doing it," he remarks.
He expresses his gratitude for the support he has received from the community and his fellow council members.
"I think I'm very honoured that people trusted myself and council to make decisions on their behalf."
Receiving the Alberta Municipalities Distinguished Service Award is a testament to Copeland's commitment to Cold Lake and its residents. As he put it, "Just seeing the community change and grow for the better . . . it's been a pleasure doing the job and I appreciate the support."
