Brazeau County incumbent Reeve Bart Guyon is running for another term in the upcoming municipal election.
Please provide a little background on yourself, including how long you’ve lived in the Brazeau County area.
I have been in Brazeau County since 1959. My father, and our family at that time, essentially, homesteaded a half section of land, near Easyford, Alta. Like a lot of people, it was kind of a last-ditch chance to feed our family and start a new life here in Brazeau County. It was a struggle to say the least, and that is what they, the community, called our ranch, ‘The Struggle Ranch.’ The community did not think we would last that long, but I am an example of the resiliency to how we survived. I apply that strong work ethic, and intestinal fortitude to make the county survive in the same way.
Why do you want to run for reeve?
Running for reeve is not the question, but what you can do as the reeve is critical and important. As always, I relied on the farmer’s sense: practical thinking, hard work, and trust built with others. Serving as reeve means having the ability to form strong relationships – not only within council, but also with the people who make major funding decisions.
Previously our community worked to secure a $2 million grant to upgrade the Violet Grove Aquatic Lagoon, that utilizes nature. We did something similar as we developed the first solar aquatic system of its kind in Canada, right in Cynthia. These projects began as ideas, but they only became reality because council trusted the vision and we moved forward together.
There has been a lot of ideas that have been brought forward in the last decade. We need to reflect on what’s working and what can be improved on. For me, I believe the 30% tax reductions that we installed was critical to help our citizens, I want to keep this policy in place. Secondly, I believe that the additional 30% off your taxes, when paid on time, has been well received that people have been paying their taxes willingly on time. These two ideas alone, will keep our budgets balanced as they have for the last decade. Furthermore, I believe in the reduction on red tapes and fees. We do not need to take more money from you folks.
The truth is anyone can have a good idea. What matters is having the leadership to bring others on board and turn that idea into something real. The initiatives we’ve advanced have delivered economic benefits first and foremost. These environmental initiatives, shines the light on Brazeau County.
What personal or professional experience do you have that you feel would make you a good reeve?
I am a farmer, and a father to four children. Life itself will give us the experience that we need to be leaders that help one another. For me, I have tried to maximize life, in exploring numerous opportunities from a young age to today, as I value the importance of diversity.
My life has taken me through a wide range of experiences that have shaped both my skills and perspective. I hold trades in electrical journeyman and instrumentation, and studied power engineering in Surmont, south of Fort McMurray. There I was part of a team that installed the first ‘huff and puff’ project for Gulf Oil – the precursor that paved the way for SAGD (steam assisted gravity drainage) technology now widely used in Fort McMurray.
Over the years, I’ve owned and operated an electrical company, a sawmill on the Fraser River in B.C., and an oil and gas company in Tomahawk, Alta. Today, I manage a large farming and ranching operation, while continually seeking new opportunities to grow and innovate. I believe we are only limited by our own imagination.
In recognition of my provincial contributions, I was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2023 and the King Charles III Medal in 2025, I was told by our MP that I was the only Reeve to receive the King Charles III Medal. I have also served as chairman of the Rural Mayors and Reeves of Alberta for 12 years and as a vice-president of the Rural Municipalities Association of Alberta for seven years.
If elected, what would be your top priorities?
My top priority as Reeve would be to continue creating stability and certainty in an uncertain world. A decade ago, we made bold changes, reducing taxes by 30% in 2015 and introducing an additional 30% discount for residents who paid their taxes on time. These initiatives positioned Brazeau County as a leader in Canada, they’ve proven sustainable for the last ten years. In fact, even with these reductions, the county collects more revenue each year without needing to chase late payments.
We’ve also cut red tape, streamlined rules for developers, and built a financial foundation that our independent auditors have confirmed is solid and secure. This momentum has made Brazeau an attractive place for people to live, with policies that respect taxpayers and minimize unnecessary government interference.
As Reeve, my commitment is to keep building on that strength. I believe in open, transparent government such as our televised council meetings, an open-door policy, and citizen-first culture all reflect that. I make it a priority to listen, understand, and support community ideas. That approach has earned Brazeau recognition at both the provincial and federal level, and I intend to keep us on that path of leadership.
Where can people learn more about you and your priorities?
On our Facebook page: Bart Guyon Reeve Brazeau County, Alberta. For more information on the Violet Grove Lagoon, click here.
Guyon is running alongside Pat Vos.
Visit our Municipal Election page for more information on the upcoming Oct. 20 municipal election.
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