Rossland city councillor Andy Morel has been elected chair of the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary board in a race between two former chairs.
Morel, who previously served as chair in 2024-25, was elected by the board today over Area B (Columbia River-Old Glory) director Linda Worley, who served as chair from 2021-24.
Morel, who was previously Rossland’s mayor before running last month for a council position, will serve a one-year term as chair. He replaces Grace McGregor, who served as chair from 2025 until now, but did not seek re-election. While the vote totals were not disclosed, Morel was nominated by Grand Forks director Everett Baker.
Morel has been Rossland’s representative to the RDKB board for eight years. In making his pitch for the position of chair, Morel said the organization faces “challenging times with substantial increases in cost pressures in all services RDKB provides.”
“Directors need to analyze carefully sustainable work plans and budgets,” he said. “The ongoing question of core services, what is needed versus what is nice to have, continues to resonate throughout our communities and regional areas.”
Beaver Valley director Ali Grieve was elected vice-chair over West Boundary director Sharen Gibbs. Grieve was nominated by Montrose director Mike Walsh and Warfield director Frank Marino while Gibbs was nominated by Baker.
Morel, Worley, Baker, Grieve, Gibbs, Walsh, and Marino are all returning to the board from the previous term, along with rural Grand Forks director Linda Kay Wiese.
New to the board are Christina Lake director Rupert Oldroyd, Midway director Judy Willsey, Fruitvale director Catherine Guesford, Trail director Mark Buckley, and Greenwood director Barry Noll.
