Resort Village of Candle Lake Council
The Resort Village of Candle Lake Council is made up of the Mayor and four Councillors who are elected by the community through Municipal Elections for a term of four years. Council works as team to make decisions and establish policies regarding the provision of municipal services according to The Municipalities Act. The role of Council is to:
- Provide direction to municipal management about the operation of the municipality.
- Ensure that the municipality’s finances and human resources are managed effectively and efficiently.
- Provide good government.
- Develop and maintain a safe and viable community.
- Foster economic, social, and environmental well-being.
Council Members
Mayor Colleen Lavoie
Mayor Lavoie has over 30 years of experience working as an administrator. As Director of Health Canada’s North Service Centre Prince Albert, Colleen supported on reserve health care. She also worked for many years as the Administrator of the Village of Albertville, a part time position.
Colleen’s education includes certificates in both Health Care Administration and Local Government Administration.
Colleen has many years of governance experience. She served as a School Board Trustee for nine years, and five years as a regional representative on the Saskatchewan School Trustees Association. Colleen also served on the Boards of Victoria Union Hospital, Prince Albert District Health, and the Prince Albert Golf & Curling Club.
Colleen grew up in the area and went to school in Meath Park. She raised her family in Albertville. Colleen and her husband Bert purchased a cabin at Candle Lake in 2000 after being long-time campers at Minowukaw.
Since retiring and moving to Candle Lake in 2015, Colleen has been actively involved in the community, providing support to various groups including as a board member for the Curling Club Board, the Parks & Recreation Board (now Sport, Recreation and Culture Board), the Development Appeals Board (as Secretary), and the Board of Revision. In 2020 Colleen served as Returning Officer for the municipal election, a challenge as voting was conducted in a drive-through during COVID. She has also worked in many elections at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. Colleen also helped out during the last Canada Census. Going door to door to complete the census provided her with an opportunity to get to know the community better.
Colleen’s commitment to volunteerism and supporting the community led to her receiving the 2022 Candle Lake Volunteer of the Year award. She is a member of the Art Club, and she and Bert are avid curlers, actively participating in curling and supporting the local curling club. They also belong to a group called Welcome the World Seniors Curling. This has given them the opportunity to travel to curl in Scotland, Denmark, England, Australia, New Zealand, the states and across Canada – they even hosted a group of curlers in Candle Lake.
Colleen is looking forward to serving the community as a member of Council.
Colleen's Contact Information
Phone # - 306-961-7001
email - c.lavoie@candlelake.ca
Councillor Debbie Hunter
Councillor Debbie Hunter has been an avid member and volunteer of the community for many years. Debbie worked at SaskTel for 33 years, and for the last five years led all volunteerism activities at SaskTel. She has certificates in Business Administration and Marketing.
After retiring in 2007, Debbie took culinary training and then worked as the Banquet Chef at the Candle Lake Golf Resort for 10 years.
Debbie has been married to her husband David for 51 years. They have three children and seven grandchildren. Debbie and her husband inherited the family’s cabin at Minowukaw Subdivision in 1989 and built their retirement home on the property in 2002.
She currently volunteers as a First Responder, Volunteer Firefighter, and is a board member for numerous groups including the Curling Club, Library, Communities in Bloom and TOPS Club at Candle Lake.
Debbie enjoys curling, fishing, hiking, knitting and crocheting. She feels living in Candle Lake is like living in paradise, and cherishes the clean water, pristine sandy beaches and the sand dunes at Minowukaw.
Her goal is to contribute to keeping Candle Lake a great place to work and play for both full-time and seasonal residents who love the community as much as she does.
Debbie is serving her second term as Councillor.
Debbie's Contact Information
Phone # - 306-981-6616
email - dhunter@candlelake.ca
Councillor Hugh Garven 
Hugh was born and raised in Weyburn, Sask. He worked in the family business until he moved to Calgary to attend university (Forestry) after high school.
Hugh began his career as an EMT then Advanced Care Paramedic in 1980, working in various communities in Saskatchewan. After becoming a Registered Nurse he worked for various health care facilities including Plains Health Centre, and Pasqua Hospital in critical care and emergency. From there, he worked as a nursing faculty member at the University of Saskatoon and at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. He also worked for many years both as an instructor and administrator, at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST). During his time with SIAST Hugh developed and implemented numerous programs including the Advanced Care Paramedic program. In addition to his nursing and EMT education, Hugh has earned professional credentials in distance education (masters), vocation technical education, and continuing education in administrative development.
Hugh has been honoured for excellence in leadership and nursing education, and in 2005 he received a Governor General of Canada Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal.
Other activities Hugh has been involved in include participating in the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan Advanced Life Support Advisory Committee and Pediatric Advanced Life Support Sub-committee, volunteering as Deputy Fire Chief with the Balgonie Fire Department and First Responders, and as EMO Coordinator for the Town of Balgonie.
A life-long leaner, Hugh has undertaken numerous projects aimed at personal and professional growth including providing first response training.
Hugh is married to Terri, and they have one daughter who resides in Australia. The family lived in Balgonie for 12 years then moved to a farm near Regina and operated a mixed far while working in Regina. While on the farm they enjoyed organizing community events and meals as well as being active in the local community hall. They purchased a seasonal cabin at Candle Lake and then moved to the community permanently in 2021.
Since moving to Candle Lake, Hugh has been a member of the Trails Advisory and Health Services Committees and an active Medical First Responder.
Along with his wife, Hugh enjoys fishing, snowmobiling, curling, golf, snowshoeing, hiking, northern canoe trips and boating. They also enjoy traveling and make frequent trips abroad.
Hugh's Contact Information
Phone # - 306-531-2121
email - h.garven@candlelake.ca
Councillor Jon Attig
Councillor Jon Attig grew up just south of Prince Albert on a small farm. He spent 19 years working in oil and gas, doing downhole testing on oil and gas wells all over western Canada, based in multiple locations around Alberta.
While commuting back and forth from Alberta, Jon began looking for a place to settle on his days off. He decided the lake would be great option, and knew Candle Lake was the best location!
In his spare time Jon enjoys cycling, snowmobiling, ATV’ing, ice fishing and spending as much time outside as possible. He also volunteers with the Candle Lake Sno-drifters.
As Jon had made Candle Lake his home, he felt serving on Council would be a good chance to make positive changes in his community. He also feels that great life skills can be learned from serving in municipal politics.
Jon sees positive momentum happening in Candle Lake with new business owners, increasing interest in real estate at Candle Lake, and other positive changes happening all the time.
Jon is serving his second term as Councillor.
Jon's Contact Information
Phone # - 306-961-1627
email - jattig@candlelake.ca
Councillor Shelly Voykin
Councillor Voykin grew up on a farm in Northern Saskatchewan and has lived in several provinces and Territories throughout her adult life.
After moving back to Saskatchewan from the Northwest Territories, Shelly and her husband Noel decided to move to Candle Lake. They purchased a home and have been living in the community full time since 2021.
In 2023, Shelly worked with Mayor and Council, and the Chief Administrative Office and Resort Village staff on contract. That work inspired her to be a part of Council to further represent the needs of the community.
Shelly enjoys gardening, boating, fishing, golfing, cross county skiing, snowmobiling, ATVing, and spending time with family and friends. She has been married to Noel for 27 years. They have 2 grown daughters who live in Saskatoon.
Shelly's Contact Information
Phone # - 306-230-3446
email - s.voykin@candlelake.ca
Learn more about Council Meetings.