Meet Your Council

Council (L-R): Councillor Jim Lequiere, Councillor Tony Zabinsky, Councillor Trevor Bolin, Mayor Lilia Hansen, Councillor Gord Klassen, Councillor Sarah MacDougall, Councillor Byron Stewart

Mayor Lilia Hansen

Mayor Lilia Hansen was born and raised in the Peace Region and has called Fort St. John home since the early 1970s. In addition to full-time mayor duties, Lilia is a director on the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) board and a steering committee member for the Spark Women’s Leadership Conference.

After being elected Mayor in October 2022, Lilia stepped down as a provincial business advisor for northeast BC with the Export Navigator program. Before that, Lilia enjoyed serving five years as the Executive Director of the Fort St. John & District Chamber of Commerce. She left this position at the end of 2018 to focus full-time on council duties after being re-elected for a full four-year term following being first elected in a by-election in 2017. She continues to proudly advocate for her community at all government levels, which motivated her to run for council.

Additional past work history includes administrative roles supporting the RCMP, and Ministry of Environment, ending her tenure as the Regional Program Admin Support (RPAS) Section Head of offices in Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, and Fort Nelson – supporting Conservation Officer Service, BC Parks, Fish & Wildlife, and Environmental Protection divisions.

Her personal business background includes owning an oilfield contracting business with her husband, real estate investment, and property management.

There is public service, and then there is community service; the latter best describes municipal government, in her opinion. Her passion for community service includes being an elected board member of the North Peace Senior Housing Society (NPSHS) and Community Futures - Peace Liard. She has been involved with the Sunrise Rotary Club since 2010, holding director and officer positions. She has been recognized for service by being awarded Rotarian of the Year in 2012 and 2017. She credits her achievements to strong mentors, family support, and those she has worked with.

Lilia has been married to her husband Ron for over 34 years; they have two daughters and wonderful golden retrievers that bring much joy to their life.

PORTFOLIO

2022 – 2026 Committee, Board, and Liaison Appointments:

  • BC Hydro Site C Community Measures Agreement Monitoring Committee
  • BC Hydro Site C Regional and Local Government Liaison Committee
  • Comprehensive Development Plan Committee
  • Community Awards Committee (2026)
  • Community Futures Peace Liard
  • Mayor's Standing Committee on Community Economic Development
  • North Peace Airport Society - Director (Voting Member Representative)
  • North Peace Leisure Pool Facility Replacement Steering Committee
  • Northern Development Initiative Trust North East Regional Advisory Committee
  • Peace River Regional District - Director
  • RCMP Detachment Oversight Committee
  • Rural Fire Protection Agreement and Fire Department Management Committee

Councillor Trevor Bolin

Councillor Bolin was born and raised in Fort St. John and has been following his dream of serving his community as a Fort St. John City Councillor since 2008.

Trevor is co-owner of RE/MAX Action Realty, owner of Burger King FSJ, owner of Gateway Esso and developer for The Gateway Plaza.

Trevor has volunteered for many local and provincial not-for-profit groups and boards over the years. Trevor is married to Lori, and they have two sons.

PORTFOLIO

2022 – 2026 Committee, Board, and Liaison Appointments:

  • Community Awards Committee (2023 & 2026)
  • Comprehensive Development Plan Committee
  • Council Response Committee on Housing and Emergency Shelter
  • Mayor's Standing Committee on Community Economic Development
  • North Peace Airport Society - Director (Alternate Voting Member Representative)
  • North Peace Leisure Pool Civic Properties Commission
  • North Peace Leisure Pool Facility Replacement Steering Committee
  • Peace River Regional District (Alternate)
  • RCMP Detachment Oversight Committee
  • Rural Fire Protection Agreement and Fire Department Management Committee

Councillor Gord Klassen

Councillor Klassen grew up in Fort St. John and is proud to call this community home. Gord served two terms as a Trustee on the School District #60 Board of Education from 2005 to 2011 and has served as a Fort St. John City Councillor since 2011.

Gord has a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Education and worked for 25 years as a pastor. He also worked as a support worker with School District 60 for many years.

In addition, Gord has served his community as Chair of the FSJ Hospital Ethics Committee, Executive Director of the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation, chaplain to the Fort St. John Fire Department, Auxiliary Firefighter, Regional Coordinator for Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Shoe Box Project, and Parent Advisory Councils (PAC) at CM Finch and Bert Bowes, as well as PAC President at North Peace Secondary School.

Gord is married to Sharon; they have three married children and eight grandchildren.

PORTFOLIO

2022 – 2026 Committee, Board, and Liaison Appointments:

  • Community Awards Committee (2024)
  • Council Response Committee on Housing and Emergency Shelter
  • Federation of Canadian Municipalities
    • British Columbia Regional Caucus
    • Standing Committee on Municipal Finance, Infrastructure and Transportation
    • Standing Committee on Social Economic Development
  • Interchange Recycling
  • Municipal Insurance Association of British Columbia
  • Northern Development Initiative Trust North East Regional Advisory Committee (Alternate)
  • North Peace Seniors Housing Society and Save Our Northern Seniors
  • Parcel Tax Review Committee
  • Peace River Regional District (Alternate)
  • RCMP Detachment Oversight Committee
  • Rural Fire Protection Agreement and Fire Department Management Committee (Alternate)
  • Salvation Army Community Council
  • Union of BC Municipalities - Director at Large (2024 - 2025)

Councillor Jim Lequiere

Councillor Lequiere was born and raised in Burnaby, moved to Dawson Creek to attend Northern Lights College to study Heavy-Duty Mechanics, and in 1986, Jim moved his young family to Fort St. John.

Over the years, Jim has served on many volunteer boards and is the president of the Josh Lequiere Society, which has financially helped over 160 local children get into sports or physical activities. As a dual-ticketed tradesman, Jim spent 30-plus years in the natural gas industry; as a team lead, he oversaw 32 direct reports and a $9 million annual budget. Over the last seven years, Jim has been a Teacher-on-Call for School District 60 and grows giant pumpkins in his spare time, which he then auctions off for local charity, with his largest to date being 203 pounds.

Jim has been happily married to Cheryl, his wife of 45 years; together, they have two children, four grandchildren, and two dogs.

PORTFOLIO

2022 – 2026 Committee, Board, and Liaison Appointments:

  • BC Hydro Peace Williston Advisory Committee
  • Caribou Leadership Team
  • Community Awards Committee (2025)
  • Community Bridge (North Peace Community Resources Society)
  • Mayor's Standing Committee on Community Economic Recovery (Alternate)
  • North Peace Leisure Pool Civic Properties Commission
  • North Peace Leisure Pool Facility Replacement Steering Committee (Alternate)
  • Parcel Tax Review Committee
  • Peace River Regional District (Alternate)
  • RCMP Detachment Oversight Committee
  • Sport Celebration Wall Standing Committee
  • Youth Advisory Council

Councillor Sarah MacDougall

Councillor MacDougall was born and raised in Nova Scotia before moving to Fort St. John in 2007 to pursue a career in healthcare. Sarah quickly fell in love with the vibrant community and everything the city had to offer and decided to put down roots and make Fort St. John her home.

Sarah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Public Health, leading to a career with Northern Health. She spent 16 years working in a variety of roles beginning as an Environmental Health Officer before moving into the role of Public Health Planner and then becoming the Team Lead for Environmental Health for the Northeast.

Service to the community is one of Sarah’s passions; she regularly volunteers at her children’s schools, their athletic programs, and her church. In addition to her council portfolio, she is a member of several community boards and organizations.

Sarah and her husband, Scott, have been married for 15 years, have four wonderful daughters and one boisterous pup.

PORTFOLIO

2022 – 2026 Committee, Board, and Liaison Appointments:

  • BC Hydro GO Fund Committee
  • Community Action Team
  • Community Awards Committee (2025)
  • Council Response Committee on Housing and Emergency Shelter
  • Fort St. John Public Library Association
  • Health Services Centre Community Advisory Council
  • Northern Lights College Liaison
  • Northern Medical Programs Trust Board and Local Committee
  • North Peace Division of Family Practitioners - CSC
  • Peace River Regional District (Alternate)
  • RCMP Detachment Oversight Committee
  • Youth Advisory Council

Councillor Byron Stewart

Councillor Byron Stewart has lived in Fort St. John since 1974 and has served Fort St. John as a City Councillor since November 2011.

Byron has been a consistent community volunteer over the years, serving on various not-for-profit boards as well as helping out with fun events. Byron has a diverse and continuous education in social services, criminology and recreation, and he is currently employed by Northern Health as the Recruitment & Retention Ambassador for the Northeast.

Byron enjoys arts, culture, sport and recreation activities while sharing time with his friends, family, and beautiful wife, Lisa. In addition, Byron has an appreciation for hats, colourful socks, and the sound of people laughing and enjoying life.

PORTFOLIO

2022 – 2026 Committee, Board, and Liaison Appointments:

  • Community Awards Committee (2023)
  • Comprehensive Development Plan Committee
  • Fort St. John and District Sports Council
  • Mayor's Standing Committee on Community Economic Development
  • Peace River Regional District (Alternate)
  • RCMP Detachment Oversight Committee
  • Sport Celebration Wall Standing Committee
  • UNBC North East Regional Advisory Committee
  • UVIC - Pacific Insititute for Climate Solutions Advisory Board

Councillor Tony Zabinsky

Councillor Zabinsky was born in Toronto, Ontario, and raised in Kamsack, Saskatchewan. In his early years in Saskatchewan, he was an Emergency Medical Technician, Commercial pilot, and a partner in a Men's clothing store in Regina, Saskatchewan. In 1990, Tony moved to BC to start a career in finance. In 1997, Tony and his family were transferred to Fort St John with Scotiabank. After 27 years with Scotiabank, he retired as a Commercial Lending Manager in October 2018. 

He has been a leader in many organizations, including Kinsmen, Fort St. John Minor Hockey, Chamber of Commerce, North Peace Senior's Housing Society, and Northern Lights College Foundation.

Tony is committed to this community that he calls home. He is an avid Saskatchewan Roughrider fan and a die-hard Toronto Maple Leaf fan. You will find Tony enjoying the local attractions of the Peace Region, including biking, golfing or river boating.

Tony is married to Gwen and has 3 adult children.

PORTFOLIO

2022 – 2026 Committee, Board, and Liaison Appointments:

  • BC Hydro Peace Williston Advisory Committee
  • Caribou Leadership Team
  • Community Awards Committee (2024)
  • Emergency Planning (Alternate)
  • Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce
  • Mayor's Standing Committee on Community Economic Development (Alternate)
  • National Zero Waste Council - Food Working Group
  • North Central Local Government Association - 2nd Vice-President (2024 - 2025)
  • Parcel Tax Review Committee
  • Peace River Regional District - Director
  • RCMP Detachment Oversight Committee
  • Rural Fire Protection Agreement and Fire Department Management Committee