Kwikwetlem First Nation (KFN) has a new chief.
Last week, voting members in the band whose territory is in the municipalities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam elected Ed Hall to replace Ron Giesbrecht.
John Peters was re-elected as councillor while George Chaffee will take over Fred Hulbert Sr.’s post on council to lead the 80-plus person organization.
A request for comment from Chief Hall was not immediately returned while KFN communications manager Shelly Kortenbach refused to speak with or reply to emails from The Tri-City News about the election.
Giesbrecht, who was voted in as KFN leader in May 2012, came under national scrutiny after he received a controversial $914,000 for his role as chief and economic development officer.
In the latter post, Giesbrecht reaped an $800,000 bonus as part of a 10% cut from an $8-million land deal on Burke Mountain in 2013; all bonuses for that position were removed April 1, 2014.
Currently, KFN is building a business park on its reserve in Port Coquitlam with the aim to include a wellness centre. In February, KFN also celebrated the opening of the Healing Spirit House at Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam by dedicating a canoe — and other artwork — at the mental health institution for young people.
In 2016, KFN filed a land claim for a portion of its traditional territory that includes the Riverview grounds and Forensic Psychiatric Hospital lands as well as Colony Farm Regional Park and a part of Gates Park in Port Coquitlam.
