Sparwood mayor Wilks resigns ahead of move

Sparwood Mayor David Wilks announced during the April 7 regular council meeting that he will resign effective May 1 as he and his wife prepare to move to Lethbridge, Alberta.

Wilks’ resignation was added to the agenda as a late correspondence item and formally presented to council near the end of the meeting. While the letter itself was received for information, Wilks also spoke publicly about the reasons behind the decision.

“With regards to my resignation, as most people would know, my wife and I have been looking for a piece of property in Lethbridge, Alberta, specifically at a 55 plus condo,” Wilks said. “We were able to identify one here a couple months ago. We put in an offer and was accepted subject to the sale of my house. My house sold in three days, so it didn’t take long.”

Wilks said provincial legislation left little room for interpretation once the move became official.

“The Community Charter and Local Government Act are very clear. If you do not have a residential address in the province to which you govern, you cannot govern. It’s very clear on that,” he said. “So as of May 11, we will be moving to Lethbridge, Alberta. I’ll have more to say on the 21st on my last council meeting.”

The announcement drew a mix of humour and appreciation from council.

Councillor Steve Kallies joked that the resignation was “not accepted,” before acknowledging the significance of the moment.

Councillor Jason Christensen called the news “bittersweet” and thanked Wilks for his years of service to the community.

“It’s going to be missed. Wish you well in Alberta,” Christensen said.

Wilks remained active throughout the rest of the meeting, chairing discussion and participating in council business as normal. His comments suggested a fuller farewell may come at the next regular meeting.

The resignation comes at a notable time for Sparwood, with council continuing work on recreation planning, waste diversion, housing and infrastructure matters. Wilks also referenced upcoming Regional District of East Kootenay meetings and recent discussions with Interior Health leadership on medical service challenges in the East Kootenay.

Before adjourning the meeting, Wilks made clear that April 21 will mark his final council session as mayor.

His departure will trigger a change in local leadership at a time when council is dealing with several longer-term files, including recreation planning and major capital work. The district is expected to provide more information on next steps once the resignation formally takes effect.