A rookie Lacombe County councillor died on the weekend while doing humanitarian work in Mexico.
Doug Sproule, 54, won a seat on council for Division 3 in last October’s municipal elections. He died on Saturday in Mexico, Lacombe County commissioner Terry Hager said Monday.
“It is with great sadness that we report on the passing of Councillor Doug Sproule. At the time of his passing. Doug was in Mexico on a work mission helping those less fortunate by helping build houses with his church group,” Hager said.
“Doug was elected as councillor and appointed as deputy reeve at the 2010 organizational meeting,” Hager added.
He said further details with respect to funeral arrangements will be released soon.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Maggie, Mark and the family,” said Hager.
Reeve Ken Wigmore said he only got to spend a few months working with Sproule.
“He took the job very seriously.”
Sproule also just completed his divisional meeting on March 1. That involved one-on-one interaction with his ratepayers. The division encompassed the Blackfalds and Haynes areas.
“He just wanted to look after his ratepayers and the rest of the county,” Wigmore added.
“He was very interested in everything that was going on. It was a huge learning curve but he was focused on doing his best for the county,” Wigmore added.
Sproule was involved in emergency preparedness and worked as a consultant to some Alberta municipalities as a principle with Sproule Emergency Preparedness Corp.
Hager said that according to the Municipal Government Act, a byelection is necessary within 90 days of the vacancy.
County council meets again on March 24, when it could set a byelection date.
Hager said the byelection could be held anytime before the 90 days expire.
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com