Williams Lake City Council Photo by Craig Smith

Williams Lake City Council
The Williams Lake City Council consists of 7 elected positions - the Mayor and 6 Council members.

Council members serve 3 year terms.

Kerry Cook

Kerry Cook: Mayor
Kerry grew up in North Vancouver moving to Williams Lake as a teenager in 1973. She graduated from UBC in 1984 with a BA in International Relations. Kerry held a seat as Councillor from 1996 - 1999. She has been an instructor and coordinator at Thompson Rivers University for over 25 years and is the Applied Business Technology Coordinator. She was Director of Sport for the 2002 BC Winter Games, a Kiwanis member and Past-President since 2004.

Kerry has been married to her husband Dan for over 25 years. They have three children Steffanie (Chris), Daniel and Meagan. Dan and Kerry are recent grandparents to grandson Kailen and granddaughter Indie. She is a proud and active hockey and soccer mom.

-Kerry chairs the Youth Gang Task Force, and she is determined and committed to making Williams Lake a safer community for all our citizens.

-She has chaired the Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition since 2008

-She serves on the Northern Development Initiative Trusts local Regional Advisory Committee.

-She has served as a Cariboo Regional District director since 2008, and will continue from 2011-2014.

-Serves on the City's Business Expansion and Attraction Task Force.

-Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow, June 2011

This is Kerry's second term as mayor, having served from 2008-2011. She is focused on building on past successes, and continuing to enhancing relationships with local First Nations communities.

Mayor Cook email address

Ivan Bonnell

Ivan Bonnell: Councillor
Ivan is a long-time resident of Williams Lake, and has previously served as a Councillor (1988-1999) and Mayor (1999-2002).

Ivan Bonnell email address

Geoff Bourdon

Geoff Bourdon: Councillor
Geoff has lived in the Williams Lake area for most of his life and is a part of his family's business, the longest running family business in the Lake City. With a background in jewelry fabrication and design, sales, marketing and customer service, he brings a fresh approach to the General Governance Committee, which includes responsibility for economic development, collaboration with local business groups, and relationships with First Nations.

Now in his second term, Geoff wants to encourage new investment and strengthen existing businesses in the community. He also intends to focus on strengthening youth interest and participation in local government.

Geoff Bourdon email address

Danica Hughes

Danica Hughes: Councillor
The life story of City Councillor Danica Hughes might be titled Merchant's Daughter Meets the Mayor.

In the autumn of 1977 Williams Lake received a new native who would become known as Danica Hughes. Born to Gerry and Gloria Hughes, her siblings are Jason Hughes and Carrie Hughes. For the major portion of her life Hughes has been immersed in the world of small business. Growing up and helping in her parent's retail furniture store has been a major influence in Hughes' foundational make up. The family owned small business environment taught Hughes the importance of honesty, hard work, reliability and responsibility. All of Hughes' academic education was attained in Williams Lake. For her elementary years Hughes attended Marie Sharpe Elementary School, then Williams Lake Junior Secondary and Anne Stevenson and then on to Columneetza. In June of 2001 Hughes graduated through G.R.O.W. and then in September 2002 became a student of the University College of the Cariboo (now T.R.U.) to take the Business Administration Program. In June of 2003 Hughes became a mother to a beautiful healthy baby girl. Late summer 2006 saw Hughes and her daughter moving to the Lower Mainland where Hughes took courses and worked as an Inside Sales Representative in manufacturing. August of 2008 was the time when the Hughes duo made Saskatoon their new home before returning to Williams Lake to settle down in February 2010.

Being newly elected to city council is an opportunity that Hughes steps into with humility and awe. Greatly aware of the enormous learning curve in front of her, Hughes possesses the attitude of "the election is over. I want to roll up my sleeves and get to work."

Danica Hughes email address

Surinderpal Rathor

Surinderpal Rathor: Councillor
Surinderpal has lived in Williams Lake for over 38 years and has been an employee at Tolko formerly Riverside Forest Products for all of those years. He has been married to Charanjit for over 37 years and has two children, Roop (Harminder Parmar)and Robin (Susan). He has 4 grandchildren, 2 boys and 2 girls. He is a recipient of four commemorative medals for community service, on Canada's 125th Confederation Year (1992), the Queens 50th Golden Jubilee (2002) and in 2005, he received the BC Community Achievement Award. On Sept. 4, 2012, Surinder was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal for his community service.
In 1992 Surinderpal was nominated for Citizen of the Year and in 2009 he was nominated for Newsmaker of the Year by the Williams Lake Chamber of Commerce. Surinderpal is in his 7th term on City Council and is the longest serving Councillor this term of office. He was also the first ever appointed Deputy Mayor for the City.

Surinderpal Rathor email address

Laurie Walters

Laurie Walters: Councillor
This is Councillor Laurie Walters� second term on Williams Lake City Council. She was first elected to council in 2008.

Williams Lake has been home to Laurie for over 37 years. She has raised her 2 children here and is now a proud grandmother of 2 grandchildren who also live in the City. She has been actively involved with the community she loves in many aspects. She is an avid community volunteer who is dedicated to promoting Arts, and has appeared in and directed numerous plays for Studio Theatre productions as well as teaches theatre. Additionally, she has been a Rotarian for 12 years and served on the National Board for Big Brothers and Sisters for 4 years.

With 25 years� experience in marketing and communications including 3 years as a Tourism Marketing Manager, 2 years in Human Resources and 7 years as a business owner and CEO of a marketing, advertising and public relations company; Laurie brings a vast and valuable skill set to her new role as Chair of the Community Services Committee.

Laurie is an employment Councillor/Facilitator at Williams Lake Employment Services. She is also a strong believer in lifelong learning and has completed her Provincial Instructors Diploma enabling her to teach and facilitate.

Laurie is excited about the opportunity to once again serve her community, this time bringing with her the experience and knowledge she has gained from the past 3 years.

Laurie Walters email address

Sue Zacharias

Sue Zacharias: Councillor
Sue Zacharias is married with 5 grown children, 13 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. She has resided in Williams Lake for 40 years. Sue works part-time with her husband, in their business, and is dedicated to ensuring continued positive economic growth in the region. Sue is also interested in promoting collaboration and cooperation within the local levels of government which include First Nations, Cariboo Regional District and the City of Williams Lake.

Looking forward, Sue will be actively engaged in helping
define and envision Williams Lake as:

1. A positive place to engage in business.
2. A fabulous place to recreate and be a tourist in.
3. A community that has a world class Thompson Rivers University- Williams Lake campus.
4. Enjoying a vibrant & successful Downtown core.
5. An outstanding, all-inclusive and multi-cultural Arts & Culture center for the region.
6. A safe, pro-active, senior-friendly and caring community.

Sue also enjoys gardening, grandkids, travelling and serving on the Executive of the BC Construction Assoc.-North Board plus BC Construction Assoc. Provincial Board.

Sue Zacharias email address