Mayor and Council

District of Kitimat Council has one mayor and six councillors. They are responsible for local government services and policies, and ensuring the District of Kitimat resources are used for the benefit and protection of its residents.

Mayor and Council's vision and goals for the 2018 - 2022 term can be found here under the Strategic Plan category. A new Council term began on November 7 and links will be updated as soon as a new Strategic Plan has been established.

Council meetings are usually held on the first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Council Chambers located at 606 Mountainview Square, located beside the court house.

A posed photo of Kitimat Council at their November 7, 2022 inaugural meeting.

 

Mayor Phil Germuth

Mayor Phil Germuth

Email Mayor Germuth

Phone: 250-632-1593

 

About Phil

Mayor Phil Germuth was born and raised in Kitimat, where he has raised three sons of his own. He was first elected as a Kitimat Councillor in 2011, and is now in his third term as Mayor.

He is also currently the Chair of the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine.

As a local business owner and licenced automotive technician by trade, Phil understands the work it takes to be successful in Kitimat and advocates for a community that is healthy and vibrant for families.

In his spare time Phil enjoys connecting with community members, trying to make a golf ball go where he wants, and vacations that include hot sun, beaches, and great snorkeling.

Councillor Edwin Empinado

Councillor Edwin Empinado

Email Councillor Empinado
Phone: 250-639-9749

Councillor Mario Feldhoff

Councillor Mario Feldhoff

Email Councillor Feldhoff
Phone: 250-639-5662

Councillor Gerry Leibel

Councillor Gerry Leibel

Email Councillor Leibel

 

About Gerry

Gerry Leibel moved to Canada from South Africa in 2016, starting out in Toronto before heading out west, first to edit the Town and Country News in Beaverlodge, Alberta, before moving to Kitimat to be editor at the Northern Sentinel in 2017.

Gerry developed a keen understanding of Canadian municipal affairs, both covering Council meetings in Beaverlodge, and then in Kitimat. 

Gerry later took a job as a housing resource worker at the Kitimat CDC. 

It was during this time that Gerry became well acquainted with the housing and social challenges facing the vulnerable in Kitimat, especially seniors and low-income families. His experiences in housing served not only as inspiration for running for Council, but also for applying for the position of Social Development Co-ordinator with Kitimat Community Services Society, a position he started in on November 7, 2022, the same day as the inauguration date for the current council.

Councillor Terry Marleau

Councillor Terry Marleau

Email Councillor Marleau
Phone: 250-279-0946

 

About Terry

Born in Kitimat and raised in Terrace, Terry has been back in his home town for over 20 years with wife Lorna and two wonderful children Jocelyn and Alex.  Terry truly enjoys living and working with the great people of Kitimat.  Terry has been an educator in Kitimat for over 35 years. He has a degree in Zoology and a Masters in Education from UBC.  He's always found it a priority to be involved in his community.

Community and Provincial group Involvement (past and present)

  • Kitimat Minor Hockey
  • BC Soccer
  • Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue
  • Kitimat General Hospital Foundation and NW Regional Hospital District Board
  • Gyro Club
  • Kitimat District Teachers Association Executive
  • UBC Medicine Candidate Interview Panel

Terry has a commitment to increasing housing for seniors and improving services in Kitimat that will attract and keep young professionals in a variety of fields to our community. It is a priority for him to maintain our wonderful natural surroundings in this place that we are blessed to live in.

Councillor Michelle Martins

Councillor Michelle Martins

Email Councillor Martins

 

About Michelle

Michelle Martins is born and raised in Kitimat, making her the third generation of her family to call this community home. Michelle has a breadth of interests; after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Northern British Columbia, she has dedicated the past 10 years to working and volunteering in the social and environmental non-profit sectors igniting a passion for protecting our natural surroundings and furthering humanitarian causes – issues that often intersect. While rooted in small town living, Michelle has had the privilege of travelling all over the world and draws upon those experiences to inspire her vision of everyday enjoyment for Kitimat residents. 

Councillor Graham Pitzel

Councillor Pitzel

Email Councillor Pitzel

 

About Graham

Graham was born in Edmonton, Alberta but moved to Kitimat when he was three years old with his parents. He spent a lot of time enjoying the outdoor activities that Kitimat has to offer with his family.  His work experience gives him strong business knowledge including through an industrial lens having worked at Eurocan, through the Kitimat Modernization Project, multiple oil and gas facilities, and now as a realtor in Kitimat.  He wants his children to see a bright future in Kitimat, and to be proud of the community we all live, work, and play in.

 Council Appointments to Committees
 

DISTRICT OF KITIMAT

Council Appointments to Committees   

 

ESTABLISHED BY COUNCIL

REPRESENTATIVE

ALTERNATIVE

 

 

 

Regional District of Kitimat Stikine

Germuth

Marleau

Advisory Planning Commission

Feldhoff

Pitzel

Leisure Services Advisory Commission

Marleau

Pitzel

Advisory Commission for Persons with Disabilities

Leibel

Marleau

Traffic Committee

Martins

Pitzel

Advisory Housing Committee

Pitzel

Leibel

Riverbank Camping Working Group

Empinado

Germuth

Diversity and Inclusion Group

Leibel

Marleau

Energy Emissions and Solid Waste Advisory Committee

Martins

Empinado

Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI)

Germuth and Pitzel

 

 

 

GROUPS WHO RECEIVE OPERATING FUNDS

REPRESENTATIVE

ALTERNATIVE

 

 

 

Library Board

Marleau

Leibel

Kitimat Museum & Archives Board

Feldhoff

Empinado

Theatre Advisory Committee

Marleau

Martins

Hirsch Creek Golf and Winter Club

Pitzel

Marleau

 

 

GROUPS REQUESTING A COUNCIL REP

REPRESENTATIVE

ALTERNATIVE

 

 

 

University of Northern B.C

Marleau

Martins

Northern Development Initiative Trust

Pitzel

Feldhoff

Municipal Insurance Association of BC

Empinado

Feldhoff

 

 

 

OTHER GROUPS

 REPRESENTATIVE

ALTERNATIVE

 

 

 

 

Kitimat Health Advocacy Group (KHAG)

Feldhoff

Leibel

Kitimat Interagency Committee

Martins

Leibel

Kitimat Age Friendly Committee

Leibel

Martins

Kitimat Public Advisory Committee (KPAC)

Pitzel

Feldhoff

Coast Mountain School District #82 Board of Education School

Feldhoff

Empinado

Kitimat Airshed Group

Leibel

Marleau

BC Oil & Gas Commission

Pitzel

Feldhoff

FCM Climate Protection Program (CPP)

Martins

Empinado

Social Issues Advocacy Committee

Marleau

Martins

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