Meet the Town of Vauxhall’s town council candidates

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Taber Times

By Nikki Jamieson
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Times reached out to the candidates for Vauxhall town council, and below are the responses of seven of the eight candidates. Election day is Monday, Oct. 20.

Please note that answers may be edited for length and clarity. 

Paul Ballard

Current Occupation: Retired Police Sergeant

Previous council/committee experience: None

Why am I interested in municipal government?

I have lived in Vauxhall long enough to see the ups and downs of our community, and I believe this is a time when fresh voices and steady leadership are needed. Having the opportunity to contribute, listen to residents, and work with others to make Vauxhall stronger appeals to me. I may be retired from my career, but I am not retired from serving. Municipal government is the level of government that impacts us most directly, and I want to help ensure decisions are made with the best interests of our residents in mind.

Why should people vote for you? 

I bring common sense, accountability, and the willingness to listen. With no previous political background, I offer a fresh perspective, free from old habits or agendas. My experience in life, work, and community has taught me to weigh issues carefully, respect differing views, and focus on practical solutions. I care deeply about Vauxhall’s future — from ensuring our infrastructure is strong to creating a welcoming place for families and businesses. I am approachable and committed to representing everyone fairly. A vote for me is a vote for a grounded, thoughtful, and community-minded council voice.

Kimberley Cawley 

Current Occupation: Plant Manager at Columbia Seed Co. Ltd. 

Previous council/committee experience: I have served as a Vauxhall Town Councilor for a total of 11 years, two of those as the Deputy Mayor and two as the Mayor. 

Why am I interested in municipal government?

I have always enjoyed being a part of a team and getting involved in the community, whether it be through school council or church, so it felt very natural for me to step into a council role. I have a deep passion for our community, and so it’s been a meaningful way to be involved and help achieve the best for Vauxhall. 

Why should people vote for you? 

I represent a large portion of the community as a working-class resident. I see the need to keep costs to a minimum, and to stretch every dollar as far as possible. With 11 years of experience on council, I’ve seen how decisions made today can impact the community 5-10 years from now, whether positively or negatively. It’s important for our residents to live in a safe and caring community, for our businesses to prosper, our seniors to thrive and families to have access to amenities without leaving town. I am committed to continuing to work hard to achieve these things.

Shelley Deleeuw 

Current Occupation- Administrative Assistant

Previous council/committee experience: Have completed one term on the Town of Vauxhall Council. Committees I have been involved with are FCSS, VDCC, Vauxhall Public Library, Joint Economic Development Committee among others that are assigned to us as council members or need additional input. 

Why am I interested in municipal government?

I was interested in seeing how the town is run and operated. I have been involved on many volunteer boards in the community that have ties to the town. I wanted a better understanding of funding, policies, and building relationships among all the different entities in our community. 

Why should people vote for you? 

I feel I am a great advocate for community associations. I am hoping to stay on to see the completion of projects that we have started or helped fund in the last year. Recreation was important to me, and I believe we have made solid steps in improving our infrastructure, adding new projects for the community to utilize in the future.

Kim Dorin (Egeland)

Current Occupation: Financial Advisor

Previous council/committee experience. I have served one term previous to this

Why am I interested in municipal government?

Vauxhall has always been my home. I’ve raised my family here and run a business here for over 15 years. I know this town and its people, and I want to make sure residents’ voices are heard and considered in the decisions that shape our community.

Why should people vote for you? 

I’m here for the people of Vauxhall. I want to listen, bring your ideas forward, and help make our town an even better place for everyone—more opportunities, stronger connections, and things for young people to do. I genuinely care about helping people and making our community the kind of place we’re all proud to call home

Marilyn Forchuk

Current Occupation: Bow River Gas Co-Op Ltd.

Previous council/committee experience: I have had the honour of being on council for the last three terms (11 years), serving on many boards and committees as a Council representative during this time. It has been very rewarding, and I have learned so much from the many dedicated people in our community who also serve on these boards and committees.

Why am I interested in municipal government?

I have to say what fueled my interest in municipal government is my concern for our community and the people.  Having lived my whole life in Vauxhall and previously working for many years for a bank located in the heart of Vauxhall, I have seen firsthand the realities/challenges of living in a small town. I had also seen how local government decisions affected our daily lives – from roads and water to our recreation and community services. I thought I would see how I could help make a difference.

Why should people vote for you? 

Having served on council for the last 3 terms I can say that I have learned so much and am very proud to have been part of the accomplishments and improvements council has made during this time. Yet, there is still so much more to do! I feel we have an urgent need to support/strengthen our existing small business while attracting new business, more housing availability options and the much-needed infrastructure projects such as sidewalks and waterlines – while making the best decisions with taxpayer dollars. I truly care about Vauxhall and the people. I am committed to working with others.

Jimmy Wolf

Current Occupation: Farmer

Previous council/committee experience: None

Why am I interested in municipal government?

I’m running for town council because I’m passionate about our community and believe that local politics is the most effective way to create meaningful change. I’ve always been fascinated by how government works at the local level, and I want to dive into the inner workings of our town council to better understand and improve the processes that shape our daily lives. My goal is to bring fresh ideas, listen to the needs of our residents, and work collaboratively to make our town a better place for everyone.

Why should people vote for you? 

I’m running for Vauxhall’s town council to deliver honest leadership. I’ll prioritize upgrading local infrastructure, supporting Vauxhall’s small businesses, and promoting sustainable growth that respects our agricultural roots while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Vote for me to build a stronger, more vibrant Vauxhall that works for everyone!

Henry Zacharias

Current Occupation: Owner of a HVAC company

Previous council/committee experience: Member of volunteer fire department (7 years), current town councillor (2 years)

Why am I interested in municipal government? 

It’s somewhat nuance I suppose. The short answer would be just that I want to try to be helpful in my community. I just want to be helpful and useful, if you want to get down to the root of it, that would be it.

Why should people vote for you? 

I think my voice would reflect the voice of the majority fairly accurately. It’s a small town, so it’s not hard to get to know people and hear what the major concerns of the day are. And there are often time when it’s the same throughout the town. There’s usually a few key issues everyone touches on, when you ask them, ‘How do we make this town better?’ I don’t know how you do it in a city, there you have every opinion under the sun. In Vauxhall, it’s a little similar, it’s a little more black and white.

An eighth candidate, Russell Norris, did not respond in time for press deadline.