Unofficial Election Results: Sandy Bowman Re-Elected Mayor as Familiar Faces Lead in Ward 1 and Beyond

FORT McMURRAY, Alta. — (10 p.m., Oct. 21) Unofficial results are in for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo’s 2025 municipal election.

In Ward 1, the six council candidates leading the polls are Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Lance Bussières, Luana Bussières, Don Scott and Jennifer Vardy. They will be joined on council by Ward 2 winners Greg “Cowboy” Marcel and Kendrick Cardinal, Ward 3’s Stu Wigle, and Ward 4’s Kyle Vandecasteyen.

Sandy Bowman will continue as mayor after receiving the support of roughly 95 per cent of voters.

In school board elections, the top seven candidates — Angela Adams, Tiffany Bennett, Pamela Bowie, Jennifer Kennett, Jonathan Lambert, Michelle Landsiedel and Tim O’Hara — were elected as trustees in the Fort McMurray Public School Division. The Fort McMurray Catholic School Division board will comprise Dale Barfoot, Chantal Beaver, Cathy Larson, Elliott Pierre and Jeff Walsh.

These results remain unofficial and may change pending final verification or recounts. Official results will be declared October 24.

Ward 2 Councillor (Fort McKay, Fort Chipewyan, Fort Fitzgerald)

Ward 3 Councillor (Draper, Saprae Creek Estates)

Ward 4 Councillor (Anzac, Janvier, Conklin, Gregoire Lake Estates)

Public School Trustee

Catholic School Trustee

FORT MCMURRAY — Update (8:25 p.m., Oct. 21)

Cullen Bird, spokesperson with the RMWB says they are prepared to work until 1 a.m. tonight should it be required. Counting would resume on Wednesday beginning at 9 a.m.

Bird hopes the results will be available before the 1 a.m. stoppage.

FORT MCMURRAY — Update (5:45p.m., Oct. 21) Harvard Media News is declaring Sandy Bowman the winner of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo’s mayoral race after a commanding lead in preliminary results.

Bowman received 9,843 votes (nearly 95 per cent of all ballots cast), far ahead of challenger Zulkifl Mujahid, who earned just 545 votes.

Harvard Media News is also projecting Greg “Cowboy” Marcel in Ward 2, Stu Wigle in Ward 3, and Kyle Vandecasteyen in Ward 4 as the newly elected councillors.

The second Ward 2 seat remains too close to call, with fewer than a dozen votes separating Kendrick Cardinal (92) from Claris Voyageur (81).

Results remain preliminary until certified by the returning officer. The RMWB continues to count ballots for Ward 1, and both the Public and Catholic School Trustees.

FORT McMURRAY —Update (5:24p.m., Oct. 21)

Sandy Bowman has secured a decisive victory in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo’s mayoral race.

Preliminary results show Bowman with 9,843 votes, far outpacing challenger Zulkifl Mujahid, who received 545.

Bowman’s commanding lead underscores strong voter confidence in his leadership as he begins another term guiding the municipality through growth, infrastructure renewal, and community priorities.

Final official results will be confirmed once all ballots, including advance and special votes, are verified by the returning officer.

FORT McMURRAY —Update (3:24p.m., Oct. 21)

Preliminary results from the RMWB election show Greg “Cowboy” Marcel holding a solid lead in Ward 2, ahead of his closest competitor by several dozen votes. In the same ward, Kendrick Cardinal and Claris Voyageur are separated by just 11 votes in a tight race for second.

Ward 2 Councillor (Fort McKay, Fort Chipewyan, Fort Fitzgerald)

Ward 3 Councillor (Draper, Saprae Creek Estates)

Ward 4 Councillor (Anzac, Janvier, Conklin, Gregoire Lake Estates)

FORT McMURRAY —Update (12:55 p.m., Oct. 21): Ballots for Wards 2, 3, and 4 have now been counted. The election team is currently reviewing and verifying the results.

Preliminary results will be released soon, though totals may change as advance votes continue to be processed.

We will post results here once they are available.

FORT McMURRAY —Update (11:10 a.m., Oct. 21): The RMBW says counting has been completed for 16 of 39 voting stations, just under half of the ballots, across the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, and those results are now being verified.

Advance votes are still being counted, with 56 advance ballot boxes remaining to be processed.

Counting continues to progress. The RMWB says that counting is progressing well. However, it takes longer in the RMWB than in some other Alberta municipalities due to our at-large ward system. For example, in Ward 1, more than 30 candidates are running for six councillor positions, compared to cities that elect one councillor per ward. This adds time and complexity to the counting process.

Please continue to follow this page for all the latest news on the election results as they are updated.

FORT McMURRAY —Election Update (9:10 a.m., Oct. 21): Ballot counting is now underway for the morning. The RMWB is thanking everyone for their patience as their team continues to count every ballot by hand.

FORT McMURRAY —Election Update (8:00 a.m.., Oct. 21):

As the public and candidates wait patiently for ballot counting to resume at 9 a.m. and for preliminary results to begin coming in, former municipal councillor Sheldon Germain shared some reflections with Harvard Media News, drawing on nearly two decades of experience serving on Wood Buffalo council.

“I believe the province needs to seriously reconsider this hand count requirement, the additional cost, the greater chance for error, and the fact that candidates and the community are waiting an entire day just to see unofficial results,” said Germain, who served nearly 20 years on municipal council. “It feels like we’ve gone back to 1998. In my first election, we didn’t get the final results until well after 1:30 a.m.”

Germain added that waiting for results is always the hardest part of an election. “Waiting for election results is the most difficult time, with that pit in your stomach. Stay positive and be confident that you did all you could, that you presented yourself, your platform and your character to the best of your ability. Now, it’s in the hands of the voters.”

He also offered advice for those who will soon take office. “Once candidates become elected officials, that’s the time to drop the ‘me’ and move to the ‘we.’ Look for commonalities in your platforms and beliefs, and be willing to work together for the needs of the community.”

Germain added one final note for those still in the race. “If I was a candidate, I would be taking down all my signs before the final election results are available. The public deserves to have their green space back.”