Meet Your Council

Steve Fairbairn was raised in Ottawa, Ontario. He was a councillor for Elkford for nearly a decade, serving consecutive three terms, before being elected Mayor for the District of Elkford in 2022.

Steve moved to Elkford in 1990, with his wonderful wife Jeanette, and they have two grown children. He holds multiple degrees (including a Bachelor of Arts degree, both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education and a professional qualification in governance). He has been a teacher, a union president and served on a B.C. public sector pension board. Currently, in addition to his role as mayor, he sits on the Regional District of East Kootenay Board of Directors, the Committee on Labour Relations/Grievances, the Highway 3 Mayors’ and Chairs’ Coalition and formerly sat on the board of the East Kootenay Community Credit Union.

The things he loves most about Elkford are the peace and quiet, the natural beauty and how he knows all his neighbours. In his free time, he volunteers with the Fernie Adapted Ski program (FAS/FIRE) in the capacity of senior instructor. He holds his Level 3 CADS instructor, Level 1 CADS Course Conductor and his Level 1 CSIA Instructor certifications. It’s not uncommon to see Steve out and about, enjoying the fresh air. His hobbies include running, bicycling, downhill skiing, camping, motorcycling, vehicle maintenance, music, bad painting and reading.

Steve wants people to know that the District of Elkford has an amazing staff who work hard and are proud of their town. He also wants people to know that mayor, council and senior staff are looking toward the future with every decision they make. They work as a team—and even when they disagree, they respect the decisions of “the whole” as being in the best interests of the community.

Originally hailing from Calgary, Shawna Bryant moved to Elkford in 2017 from Okotoks. She is currently serving her first term on council and sits on the Youth Action Network Commission, Teck Community Effects Advisory Committee and Official Community Plan Advisory Committee.

Shawna’s proudest accomplishments in life are her family and her business. She and her wonderful husband, Jarod, have three children, as well as an adopted golden retriever named Cassie. When the kids aren’t playing sports, the family can be found hiking, paddleboarding camping and snowshoeing.

Shawna is a fixture within the local business community and has been a successful business owner for over 20 years. Her professional background includes working in supervisory roles in the oil and gas industry, as well as providing business strategy coaching, consulting and training to other business owners. Her passion for volunteer work—and tireless advocacy in support of the nonprofit organizations that make our community so great—led to her being awarded the Elkford Chamber of Commerce’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2023.

Shawna says that Elkford is the best place to live because of its community spirit, which she feels is exemplified by its residents, District staff and council alike. As a councillor, she’s excited to take part in helping advance Elkford in areas like housing, healthcare and downtown core revitalization.

Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Len Gostick has lived in Elkford for 37 years and is currently serving his second term on council. His family moved to Elkford when he was five, and he left after high school, but found himself drawn to return in 2003.

A successful small business owner for the last 27 years, Len has also worked in the construction, mining and service industries and owned restaurants and a heliskiing lodge. He loves the outdoor activities that Elkford has to offer and enjoys fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and all levels of government politics. An avid volunteer and believer in giving back to the community, he was awarded the Elkford Chamber of Commerce’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2022.

Len, and his lovely wife Angela, have been married for 28 years and have three children together. He is passionate about Elkford’s long-term success and wants people to know how much he and his fellow council members care about their community, its safety and its sustainability. He sits on the Committee on Labour Relations/Grievances for the District of Elkford.

Len is excited to see what the future holds for Elkford and is especially looking forward to watching the downtown core revitalization and seniors’ centre come to fruition.

After working as a summer student at Fording River Operations (FRO) in 2003, Tathlina Lovlin fell in love with the Elk Valley. She relocated to Elkford permanently three years later, where she and her husband have three great kids, three cats and a dog. She is currently serving her first term on council.

Tathlina has a diverse professional background, including working as a professional engineer in mining, as a certified early childhood assistant in schools and as a certified lifeguard at the pool. She holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering. During her decade working at FRO—in engineering and other roles—she was among the first women on-site to perform certain jobs and is proud to have helped open doors for other women who followed.

A woman of many talents and skills, Tathlina is also an accomplished potter with her own home-based pottery business, as well as a former pottery instructor at the Elkford Art Studio. She loves sports, both coaching youth soccer and holding over 20 years of experience as a gymnastics coach. When the snow flies, you’ll either find on ski patrol for Wapiti Ski Club or carving powder on the hill with her kids.

Tathlina loves Elkford for its small-town friendliness and mountain views, and she is thrilled about the influx of young families moving to town. She looks forward to helping raise awareness about council’s mandates and processes during her term, as well as seeing how increasing diversity is helping to shape our community and its future.

Duncan MacDonald grew up in Ontario but has called Elkford home since 1978. He and his beloved wife, Anna, have been married for 40 years and raised their children here. He cares deeply about the community of Elkford, and he is currently serving his second term on council.

Duncan worked for the District of Elkford for 39 years before his retirement. He is proud to be the first person in the organization’s history to start as a labourer, work his way up to the Superintendent of the Public Works Department, and retire with nearly 40 years of service under his belt. He continues to serve the community through his work as a councillor. He also sits on the Committee on Labour Relations/Grievances and Official Community Plan Advisory Committee for the District of Elkford, is an alternate for the Regional District of East Kootenay Board of Directors and was formerly the Chairman of the Elkford Housing Society.

Duncan considers his family his greatest accomplishment and enjoys camping, boating and spending time with his kids and three adorable grandchildren. He appreciates the beauty and tranquility that Elkford has to offer, its proximity to all the amenities that big cities have to offer and how wonderful it is to raise a family here.

Hailing from Fort McLeod, Alberta, Jason Meldrum has called Elkford home for the past 14 years. He is currently serving his first term on council and sits on both the Youth Action Network Commission and Teck Community Effects Advisory Committee. He and his lovely wife, Keira, have a son, two dogs and two cats.

A mechanic by trade, Jason has worked as a certified Red Seal Automotive Mechanic for the past 25 years and is also an Authorized Inspector under the Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspection program. He loves working in the yard, daily walks with the family dogs, disc golf, paddle boarding and riding bikes with his son, Carter. He isn’t a big fan of winter, however, and only enjoys two things about it: shovelling snow and when it’s over.

Jason is perhaps best known as the founder and president of the Elkford Biking Club, as well as for his efforts, advocacy and work to build and maintain Elkford Bike Jump & Skills Park. The result of a partnership between the District of Elkford and the Elkford Biking Club, Elkford’s bike park was completed in the Boivin Creek Recreation Corridor in 2022. This community project was funded through grants from Columbia Basin Trust— and generous donations from local businesses, organizations and residents—and is now among Elkford’s most treasured outdoor amenities.

Besides the bike park, what Jason loves most about Elkford is that it’s a small town with a big heart. He is excited about how far Elkford has come in the last few years and grateful for the groundwork performed and dedication shown by the previous council.

Bert Schalekamp has lived in Elkford since 2011, after relocating from Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. Originally from the coastal city of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, he and his wonderful wife—Michele— emigrated to Canada in 2007. He is currently serving his first term on council, and he sits on both the Urban Wildlife Committee and the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Treaty Advisory Board.

Bert and Michele have been happily married for 26 years and have a son and daughter, who both completed their schooling in Elkford and are currently working and studying. The family spends their holidays travelling the world and exploring Canada. They share a passion for nature and especially enjoy watersports like sailing, canoeing and kayaking on nearby lakes and rivers.

As a geologist, Bert has spent the last 32 years working in the mining industry—specifically in coal mining and exploration at various mining operations—which gives him unique insight into the natural resources sector and its influence on communities in the region. He cares deeply about the environment and believes that there is a bright future in the continued, respectful and responsible coexistence of all peoples, wildlife, nature and industry in the Elk Valley.

Bert is honoured to serve our community and says that the best things about Elkford are its wonderful people and the beauty of the wilderness that surrounds it. He is most excited about the completion of the downtown core revitalization plan and taking part in the process of updating of Elkford’s Official Community Plan.