Ross Haven

Council Member Bios

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Mayor Kelly Demkiw

In August 2010, Kelly Demkiw decided to embark on her political career and was elected Mayor of the Summer Village of Ross Haven.

Kelly began her love affair with Ross Haven 30 years ago by coming out to the family cottage with her family. Six years ago, she and her three dogs decided to make Ross Haven their full time residence after she built her home on 9th street.

Kelly is a Chartered Accountant and Manager of Audit and Assurance services at Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP, an Edmonton accounting firm employing almost one hundred staff. She services a variety of clients including small owner-managed businesses, not-for-profit agencies, investment brokers and public companies. Kelly holds a Management Degree with a major in accounting, which she obtained in 2003. She commutes to and from Edmonton daily.

Kelly spends most of her time entertaining her family and friends which is "at the lake" to them but "home" to her. In the past few years Kelly has taken up golf which leads her on travels west to the mountains and south for a few weeks every winter.

Kelly looks forward to working with the part and full time residents of the village over the next three years to find balance between the village's growth and its historical values. She sees her role as an extension of the people and will do her best to fulfill this role.

Councillor Kevin Kovacs

Kevin and his wife Michelle have lived as full time residents in Ross Haven since 1995. They enjoy boating, fishing and snowmobiling. Kevin grew up with a love of lake life at his parent's cabin on Lac La Nonne.

Kevin has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta. He is the Western Regional Manager for Thermo Fisher Scientific (a company that manufactures and distributes scientific equipment and supplies global consumers including hospital, research, forensic and quality control laboratories across a broad spectrum of industries).

This will be Kevin's third term on council. He served two terms as Mayor from 1998 to 2004.

Kevin looks forward this term and would like to provide good governance for the full and part-time residents of Ross Haven.

Deputy-Mayor Debra Oakley

Debra has lived in the Summer Village of Ross Haven part time year round for 16 years with her husband Brian and three children, Robert, Angela and Cara, who have all grown and left the nest.

Debra was one of the founding members of the Ross Haven Community League in 2000. She went on to sit on the executive for 6 years. In 2007, Debra was elected to the Municipal Council and served her first term as mayor. She is excited to be starting her second 3 year term on council working with Kelly and Kevin.

Debra also works part time for the Alberta SPCA and is in partnership with a good friend in an Appaloosa Horse Breeding/training business in the Ross Haven Area.