INNISFAIL – When Donnie Hill took his seat at town council for the first time on Oct. 23 he became the youngest town councillor in the community's 114-year history.
At age 26, he will also continue a family path in civic politics that was first laid by his grandfather Don Shygera, who served two terms on town council from 2004 to 2010.
“I think it is fantastic. He has a lot of interest in the town and politics,” said Shygera. “And I know he will do well. He is his own man.”
And 1,309 Innisfailians are also confident he will do just fine. That was the second highest number of votes, after Jean Barclay, for any of the 13 mayoralty and councillor candidates in the Oct. 16 election.
The election of such a young council member has not been an issue in town since Jason Heistad won a council by-election in 2003 at the age of 32. At that time it was thought Heistad may have been the youngest ever. Not so, said Heistad last week.
“Donnie Hill is the youngest council member ever,” declared Heistad, who went on to serve on council until 2013 before pursuing a union management career with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees. “And the reason I know this is because Doug Fee once asked me what my age was, and he chucked and said, “I am still the youngest.”
Fee was 27 years old when he was first elected to town council in 1971. He continued to serve as councillor until 1977 when he was elected as mayor. Fee continued in that role until 1988 when he entered federal politics as the MP for Red Deer.
Yes, Hill is the youngest, with Fee second and Heistad third.
“I am very proud of Donnie Hill,” said Heistad. “He has always been a great kid and a great community-mined leader. Donnie learned many lessons from his grandfather.”
In the meantime, Hill, who runs a small business contracting company, was still soaking in his win last week, a little bit in awe that he was able to have such a positive impact with so many people when there was such a strong list of other, and older, candidates to choose from.
“Obviously being my age I may not have the life experiences that everyone else had to offer. I wasn't sure if I was well received as I ended up being,” said Hill. “It was a sense of pride that I had that much support from everybody. It was a pleasant surprise for sure.”
As far as being the youngest elected councillor ever for the town, Hill said it did not start to sink in until his grandfather raised the possibility.
“My grandpa said, ‘you know, honestly I don't think there ever has been someone your age run or get elected for that matter.' I've asked around a bit and no one has said differently,” said Hill. “Obviously a person can't have it (youngest) as a claim to fame until it is confirmed but I think it would be good for the Town of Innisfail to see that the youth is definitely prevalent and does care about the community even at the age of 26.
“I think that would be really encouraging,” added Hill. “I think it would be a really good starting point for Innisfail to say, ‘we do support our young families. We actually have the youngest councillor, potentially, to ever been elected in Innisfail.”
Potentially, no more. Donnie Hill is the youngest, and he is out to prove that the young to the community not only have a voice, but one that is committed, passionate and intelligent.
He is vowing to advocate at the council table for are transparency, accountability and accessibility, issues that were at the forefront in the community over the past year.
“I want to level the playing field between the council and citizens. I don't want there to be a hierarchy where one tells the other one what to do,” said Hill. “I want to work in partnership with the community. I want to create a nice level of open line of communication without having to form an opposition…(but) a respectful way of communicating.
“I think we are at a pivotable focal point where we have been the support to have new beginnings. It is a real good opportunity to gain the trust of the community,” he added. “Within the first year of being elected this council really has to make its mark and the mission statement needs to be for the people. We are not for ourselves or for an alter ego. It is for the community. We were elected by you. Let's represent you fairly and respectfully.”
For more election coverage see pages 10 to 17.
Jason Heistad, former town councillor
"Donnie Hill is the youngest council member ever. I am very proud of Donnie Hill. He has always been a great kid and a great community-mined leader. Donnie learned many lessons from his grandfather."
