Meet Your Council

MAYOR AL MILLER
Al Miller has been living in Invermere since 1988. He and his wife Lucy have three children and own the Invermere Home Hardware Building Centre.
Al has been very active in the business community serving on several boards and committees. He has served as Chair of the IBC (Invermere Business Committee), as president of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce for three terms, and he recently retired as President of the Columbia Valley Rockies Hockey Club.
With a passion for community service, Al was elected as a Councillor in 2008 and 2014 before stepping into the role of mayor in 2018. Al believes in a strong social, economic, and environmental balance. His goal is to help guide Invermere into the future with strong economics, good social programs, keeping the environment top of mind. “Commitment to community” is his motto.

COUNCILLOR GRANT KELLY
Coming soon…

COUNCILLOR THERESA WOOD
Coming soon…

COUNCILLOR KAYJA BECKER
Kayja Becker feels fortunate to be able to say she was born and raised in the Columbia Valley. She left the Valley to attend college in Kelowna, but returned in the spring of 2014 as she knew Invermere was where she was meant to be. The same year she returned, she ran in the municipal election and, after narrowly losing out, she knew she wanted to dedicate herself to the town in any way she could.
Kayja began volunteering, and through that became familiar with some of the issue areas in the community as well as with the incredible local citizens who are so passionate about what they do. When the 2018 election began, she knew she wanted to represent those in the community who are often too busy in their volunteering efforts and find themselves unable to attend local government Q&A periods. Kayja always tries to filter her decision-making through the lens of “how does this impact those with no government voice”, such as the environment, animals and youth.
Kayja lives with her partner Shane in Invermere and their a little rescue dog named Juan Diego who ensures she gets out walking the town daily. She looks forward to her first term in local government and encourages anyone reading this to reach out as she would love to hear from you.

COUNCILLOR GERRY TAFT
Gerry Taft is proud to be born and raised in Invermere. Gerry was first elected to Invermere council in 2002 at the age of 20. After two terms on Council, Gerry was elected as Mayor in 2008. After three successful terms and ten years as Mayor and as a Director on the Regional District of East Kootenay (which makes Gerry the longest serving Mayor in the history of Invermere), Gerry decided to take a step back and run for a council seat in the October 2018 municipal elections.
Gerry has extensive business experience, from selling Lego in his Grade 3 classroom, to founding and operating Gerry’s Gelati for 13 years (before selling the business in 2016). Gerry is now working full time as a REALTOR® and is enjoying sharing his passion for the community and his belief in investing in the community on a daily basis.
Gerry has been elected a number of times by his local government peers to the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). Gerry is current a Director at Large with the UBCM and serves on the Environment and Resolutions Committees.
Gerry lives year-round in Invermere with his partner Nozomi, their children Kelvin and Veronica, and their lazy dog Piper.