support Dylan Bressey

for director and Vice President

Cities up to 500,000

It’s a challenging time to serve in municipal government. But our Mayors, Councillors, and Administrators are rising to the occasion! I’m so excited about the work of municipal governments across Alberta. Which is why I am running for the Board and Executive of Alberta Municipalities. I want to support the work of our members as they help build thriving communities and strong local economies.

This page will tell you more about myself, my work, and how I think ABmunis can best serve local Councils. But I’d love to hear directly from you! What’s happening in your local community and what support would help?

If we haven’t connected yet, please give me a call or text at 780-402-4166. Or email me at dbressey@cityofgp.com. Send me your thoughts. Better yet: let me know how I can find you for a chat at Convention.

Scroll down for more information

Including priorities I see and my experience.

ABmunis PRIORITIES I SEE

Municipal government is complex and every community is different. ABmunis needs to have a broad approach to support local Councils. However, there are some very common priorities I’ve heard as I’ve talked to Councillors, Mayors, and Reeves.

Housing & Social Issues

Housing, addictions, mental health, and other social issues are growing concerns in our communities. These are not municipal responsibilities. But they are not being addressed adequately by other levels of government. Municipalities are being forced to step in due to growing pressure on our residents and municipal services. We need strong advocacy for other governments to do their part. And venues for municipalities to share pragmatic solutions with each other.

provincial funding

Provincial infrastructure funding has been slashed. ABmunis has had strong advocacy on this file, and this needs to continue. The value, needs, and fiscal realities of municipal finances must be clearly communicated to MLAs, MPs, and residents. Local Councils also need to be given better tools to measure and benchmark their spending to help them deliver value for ratepayers. And the needs of midsized cities need to be considered in Local Government Fiscal Framework allocations. The viability of Cities benefits both urban residents and rural residents who rely on urban service centeres.

municipal services

Insurance. Pensions. Benefits. Procurement. These are dry topics, but hugely important to municipal operations. Through AMSC (Alberta Municipal Services Corporation), ABmunis provides corporate services that many municipalities rely on. It does a great job of this. But given current fiscal realities, attention needs to be paid to ensure that these services continue to be of great quality and high value. This provides direct value to our members. These corporate services also fund 1/3 of ABmuni’s advocacy efforts.

Administrative Talent

Retirements and increasing challenges are making it more and more difficult for municipalities to attract and retain great Administrative talent. We need to be working with Municipal Administrator Associations to develop and retain more staff. There is also work that should be done to attract and train senior leaders from other sectors into municipal roles.

Elections and Onboarding

This Board term will end with a General Municipal Election. Heading into it, we need to work hard to educate Albertans about the role, challenges, and opportunities of municipal government. This will help attract quality candidates and will help residents to make informed votes. As new Councillors come in, there is more we can do to quickly orient them and provide them with strong professional support networks.

your priorities

Above I’ve laid out the most common priorities I hear when talking to Councillors, Mayors, and Reeves. However, I’d love to learn more about your priorities and your community’s needs. What else should ABmunis be focusing on to serve you? Please send me your thoughts, or setup a time for us to chat at Convention. You can call or text 780-402-4166 or email dbressey@cityofgp.com

Municipal EXPERIENCE

Throughout my time on Council, I’ve received a number of appointments that have given me a strong knowledge base to serve on the Alberta Municipalities Board. Some of the highlights of appointments Grande Prairie Council has trusted me with:

Chair, Protective & Social Services Committee
Chair, Community Opioid Response Task Force
Grande Prairie Police Commission
Joint [Regional] Emergency Management Committee
Inter-municipal Collaboration Framework Negotiating Committee

During my two years on the Alberta Municipalities Board, I’ve been eager to take on many responsibilities. ABmunis appointments I’ve served in include:

Chair, Audit/Finance Committee
Vice-Chair, Municipal Governance Committee (Vice-Chair)
Alberta Municipal Services Corporation Board of Governors
Municipal Fiscal Health Working Group
Local Government Fiscal Framework Negotiating Committee
MUNIX (Municipal Insurance Exchange) Advisory Board
Investment Advisory Committee
Minister’s Awards of Municipal & Library Excellence Panel
Representative to Northern Alberta Elected Leaders
Representative to RMA District 4

About Dylan

Prior to being elected, I had a career in the non-profit sector. I built and directed youth resiliency programs. These days, serving on City Council is my primary employment. Most times, it also feels like my biggest hobby. But when I’m not doing Council work, a lot keeps me busy:

I’m a husband to Naomi and father of two young boys.
I’m a founder and co-owner of a temporary labour company which is developing a digital technology focus to deliver its services.
When I moved to Grande Prairie, I brought disc golf to the Peace Country. I spend time building courses, developing clubs, and running events in our corner of Alberta. I even occasionally get to lose a tournament.
I serve on the United Way Alberta Northwest Board, where we are working at developing connections in communities across our region.
I chaired the Ambassador program for the 2018 Alberta Summer Games and am chairing it for the 2024 Alberta Winter Games

Help dylan!

To get on the Board and Executive Committee, I need your help at Convention! Ways you can help:

Stickers: I will have “Dylan Bressey” stickers to put on your nametag or chest. Pick one up and put it on. Better yet: get a few friends to wear one with you!
Introduce Me: Help me touch base in person with with Mayors and other City Councillors.
Flyers: Help me put out flyers on the Convention Hall tables. Touch base with me to arrange a time.
Vote: If you are eligible to vote for Director, Cities up to 500 000: make sure you you come out at 8am on Friday morning!

Election information

Elections will happen during the AGM at Convention. This will be taking place at the 8:00 am Session on Friday, September 29th

Director elections will happen first. There will be at least two positions up for election. You will be able to vote for ONE candidate. Whoever gets the most votes will be elected Director. They will be dropped from the ballot and another vote will occur for the next position.
After the Directors elections, an election for Vice President will be held. Only those that were elected to be Director can run.
Mayors and Councillors from the following municipalities can vote for the “Cities up to 500,000” positions: Airdrie, Beaumont, Brooks, Camrose, Chestermere, Cold Lake, Fort Saskatchewan, Grande Prairie, Lacombe, Leduc, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Mackenzie County, Red Deer, Wood Buffalo, St. Albert, Spruce Grove, Strathcona County, Wetaskiwin.