By Steve Hubrecht
Canal Flats is heading to a byelection in September after a pair of village councillors stepped down recently.
The five-member council lost two members in a matter of weeks. Councillor Jennifer Noble stepped down in late June, and a few weeks ago councillor Anora Kobza did the same.
The village has set a byelection date of Saturday, Sept. 14 to fill the two vacant seats, and those wanting to run have until Friday, Aug. 9 to submit their nominations to the village office.
“I’m very sorry to see them go, but I understand the reasoning. I hope they will consider putting their hats in the ring (to run for municipal office) again some time in the future,” Canal Flats Mayor Mark Doherty told the Pioneer.
Both councillors cited personal reasons for stepping down, but did not elaborate. The Pioneer attempted to contact both Noble and Kobza for comment, but was unable to reach them prior to press deadline, despite multiple attempts.
“Councillor Kobza has made meaningful contributions to our community, particularly in advancing our housing priority. Her efforts have helped to create positive changes and improvements for our community,” said Doherty in a village Facebook post after Kobza announced her resignation. He had similarly praised Noble in an earlier post after she announced her resignation, noting Noble’s efforts in housing and in advocating to have speed limits reduced on Highway 93/95 through Canal Flats.
In a letter sent to Canal Flats council in mid-July, Kobza, in addition to citing personal reasons for her resignation, wrote that she was also stepping down for “moral reasons, primarily stemming from a lack of support within the council. I have strived to serve the community to the best of my abilities. I believe that in order to maintain the integrity of the council and uphold the values that I hold dear, it is necessary for me to resign at this time.”
Noble sent a resignation letter to Canal Flats council in late June, writing that “I have greatly valued the opportunity to serve the community in this capacity and have appreciated the support and collaboration of my fellow council members. However, at this time, I must prioritize personal matters that require my full attentions and commitment. I must put my family’s well-being first.”
Kobza has spent almost her entire life in the village, and her family’s roots there extend back 80 decades to when the family immigrated from the Czech Republic. When she ran for council in fall 2022, Kobza told the Pioneer. “I want to be a voice for Canal Flats.”
Noble has a background in finance, working as fi- nance manager at PodTech, and as the chief financial officer for the Columbia Lake Technology Centre in Canal Flats, as well as an accounting manager at Copper Medical Supplies. When she first ran for council in fall 2022 she told the Pioneer “with a strong understanding of business and finance I will work to ensure accountability and transparency for residents of this community . . . I care about helping people and want to see everyone thriving with a place to live and work.”
Anora Kobza
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Jennifer Noble
PHOTO SUBMITTED
