City Council

Mayor Irvine Ferris
Member: Finance, Legislative & Property Committee, City Planning & Economic Development Committee, Public Safety Committee, Waterworks Committee, Transportation Committee, Community Services Committee
Director: Portage Regional Recreation Authority, Portage & District Hospital Foundation, Queen Elizabeth Scholarship, Portage la Prairie Planning District
Representative: Budget Committee, City Manager’s Evaluation, Emergency Control Group, Tax Sharing Committee

Councillor & Deputy Mayor Brent Budz
Chairperson: Finance, Legislative & Property Committee
Second: City Planning & Economic Development Committee
Director: Portage Regional Recreation Authority, Portage Regional Economic Development, Portage la Prairie Planning District
Representative: Budget Committee, City Manager’s Evaluation, Emergency Control Group, Tax Sharing Committee

Councillor Melissa Draycott
Councillor Melissa Draycott resigned from City Council, effective Friday May 6, 2022. Her position will remain vacant until the October 2022 election.

Councillor Ryan Espey
Chairperson: Transportation Committee
Second: Finance, Legislative & Property Committee
Director: Portage Regional Recreation Authority, Portage la Prairie Planning District Board
Representative: Budget Committee, City Manager’s Evaluation, Emergency Control Group, Board of Revision, Tax Sharing Committee, Parks Committee

Councillor Sharilyn Knox
Chairperson: Public Safety Committee
Second: Community Services Committee
Director: Regional Landfill Authority, RCMP Community Consultative Committee, Regional Library Board
Representative: Budget Committee, City Manager’s Evaluation, Emergency Control Group, Tax Sharing Committee, Portage Urban Indigenous People’s Coalition

Councillor Preston Meier
Chairperson: City Planning & Economic Development Committee, Board of Revision
Second: Transportation Committee
Observer: Chamber of Commerce and Positively Portage
Director: Regional Landfill Authority, Portage Regional Economic Development, Heartland Community Futures,
Representative: Budget Committee, City Manager’s Evaluation, Emergency Control Group, Tax Sharing Committee, Public Art Committee, Portage Urban Indigenous People’s Coalition

Councillor Wayne Wall
Councillor Wayne Wall served on Council until his passing on February 11, 2022. This position will remain vacant until the October 2022 election.
Youth Member of Council
City Council sees value in having a Youth Member of Council in order to build interest and knowledge of municipal government in today’s youth. A Youth Member will be selected at the beginning of each school year and will remain until the last meeting of Council in the following August. For more information on the Youth Member of Council position contact the Manager of Administration at 204-239-8337 or info@city-plap.com

Youth Councillor Jessica Ramachandran
Council Information
Council Newsletter: Council Briefs – Winter 2022
Council Ad Hoc Committees: Council appoints several committees each year which includes the Municipal Heritage Committee, Public Art Committee and Portage Parks Committee.
Administrative Contacts
City Manager: Nathan Peto
Director of Corporate Services: Cathie McFarlane
Director of Operations: Jocelyn Lequier-Jobin
Director of Utility: Karly Friesen
Director of Public Safety / Fire Chief: Phil Carpenter