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DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Tina Gargan has a vision for Fort Providence.

Gargan would like to see community members working towards the common goal of investing in youth so they can become strong and successful leaders.

"They'll be leading us when we're elders," she said. "I'd like to know I was part of that foundation."

Gargan, the Hamlet of Fort Providence's new mayor, was acclaimed to the position.

She previously served as mayor from 2007-08. After stepping away from council for a year, she was elected again as a councillor in December 2010 and appointed deputy mayor.

Gargan has been serving as acting mayor since former mayor Raymond Bonnetrouge stepped down on Oct. 20. When council decided to put the remaining year of Bonnetrouge's term up for election, Gargan made the decision to stand for nomination.

Gargan said she gained a lot of knowledge and had a lot of personal growth during her last term as mayor and the year she spent away from council.

"I feel more confident in myself to serve as the community's mayor," she said.

Gargan is viewing her acclamation as a sign of the community's confidence in her because no one else felt it necessary to oppose her.

Gargan will be sworn in, along with the councillors who are elected on Dec. 12, in the new year.

Until then, Gargan will remain busy in the position of acting mayor. The hamlet is currently in the process of expanding its landfill, which is nearing capacity.

Plans are also ongoing to expand the water treatment plant. The plant is aging and needs to be upgraded and enlarged to meet the community's growing needs, Gargan said.

Once a plan is finalized for the necessary work, council will begin hiring contractors.

Other plans include renovating the community's arena and taking steps to ensure the pool is open for the summer. The facility was closed this summer as a result of ventilation problems.

"We had to make sure it was healthy enough for our community to use," said Gargan.

Apart from the large capital projects, council is also working to ensure that daily services such as water, sewer and garbage run smoothly.

"A lot of things people take for granted," she said.

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