Prince Albert city council will review its annual record of attendance Monday, offering a snapshot of how elected officials participate in regular council and executive committee meetings throughout the year.
The report, prepared by administration, tracks attendance for all councillors across scheduled meetings in 2025 and is presented to council as part of its routine transparency and governance process. The data includes both in person and virtual participation, reflecting the different ways councillors remain engaged in civic decision making.
Attendance records are compiled by the City Clerk’s office and form part of the City’s public accountability framework. They are intended to give residents a clear picture of how often council meets and how elected officials take part in those meetings.
According to the report, city council held 14 regular meetings and six special meetings in 2025, for a total of 20 council meetings. Coun. Darren Solomon recorded full attendance across all 20 meetings, while Mayor Bill Powalinsky, Coun. Daniel Brown, Coun. Stephen Ring, and Coun. Blake Edwards each attended 19 meetings. Coun. Tony Head and Coun. Bryce Laewetz recorded the lowest overall attendance, with 16 meetings attended each. Several councillors made use of virtual participation, with Coun. Tony Head and Bryce Laewetz each attending three meetings by video conference, Coun. Dawn Kilmer attending two, and Couns. Troy Parenteau and Blake Edwards attending one meeting virtually.
City councillors serve in a part time capacity, and many balance their municipal responsibilities with full time employment, family commitments, and other community roles. In recent years, virtual attendance has also become an important tool, allowing councillors to participate even when personal or professional obligations prevent them from being physically present in the council chamber.
In addition to regular council and executive committee meetings, many councillors also serve on external boards, commissions, and advisory groups, representing the City in areas such as public safety, community services, and regional planning. Councillors are also frequently present at city inaugurations, community events, and official openings, acting as representatives of the municipality. These responsibilities are carried out alongside their professional and personal lives, and in some cases while managing significant personal matters. Virtual participation has allowed councillors to remain involved in discussions even when they are dealing with family or work related commitments.
The report also shows that executive committee met 16 times in public session and 18 times in camera. In public meetings, Mayor Bill Powalinsky and Coun. Stephen Ring recorded full attendance, while Coun. Tony Head attended 12 meetings and Coun. Bryce Laewetz attended 11, the lowest among councillors. In camera attendance remained high overall, with Mayor Powalinsky and Coun. Stephen Ring again recording full participation, while Coun. Tony Head and Coun. Bryce Laewetz attended 14 of the 18 in camera meetings.
The report covers both regular city council meetings, where major policy decisions are made, and executive committee meetings, which involve more detailed administrative and financial discussions. Together, the two bodies represent a significant time commitment for councillors over the course of the year.
Administration notes that the purpose of the report is not to evaluate performance or compare councillors, but to provide a transparent and accurate record of participation in municipal governance.
The attendance report is received as information only, meaning no formal decision is required. However, it plays an important role in maintaining public trust by documenting how local government functions and how elected representatives contribute to the work of the City.
For residents, the report also offers a behind the scenes look at the demands of municipal service, highlighting the steady, often unseen work involved in attending meetings, reviewing reports, and engaging in local decision making.
The item forms part of council’s broader commitment to open government and public accountability, ensuring that the operations of City Hall remain visible and accessible to the community.
arjun.pillai@paherald.sk.ca
