Councillors

Councillor Mort Goss

Councillor Mort Goss is an independent business owner who has operated a local retail store for more than 30 years. He was first elected to City Council in 2014 and he has served on a variety of municipal committees and boards.

Contact Councillor Goss

You can contact Councillor Goss by email or give him a call at 807-466-1626.

Committee experience

Councillor Goss has sat on a variety of boards and committees:

• Ducks Unlimited Lake of the Woods Committee for five years (acted as Chair for two years)
• Kenora Tourism Committee (1989 to 1994)
• Harbourtown BIZ (since 2006 and served as president 2008- 2014)
• Tourism Kenora
• Harbourtown Centre Committee
• Big Green Committee
• Lake of the Woods Development Commission (2010 to 2012)

About Councillor Goss

Goss was born in Timmins, Ontario in 1949. He moved to Kenora in 1954 where he now lives with his wife, Emily and they have two adult sons. Over the years, Goss has volunteered with a variety of recreation and culture organizations:

• served as convenor and coach for Kenora Minor Soccer for ten years and sponsors a local men's league team
• he was the founding chairman of Wintermission, the group that revived the winter carnival, from 1988 to 1992
• he was the founding chairman of Lake of the Woods Heritage Festivals, produced hundreds of concerts/ festivals for national and international touring acts
• he served as entertainment producer of the first seven Harbourfest events, twelve blues festivals and dozens of Harbourfront events
• he is a member of the Brand Leadership Team that developed the new Boating Destination brand

In his spare time, Goss enjoys photography, cooking, travel, gardening, entertaining and live music.

Councillor Rory McMillan

Councillor Rory McMillan is a lifelong resident of Kenora who has served as an elected official for over 20 years. He has been marred to his wife, Glenda for more than 50 years.

Contact Councillor McMillan

You can contact Councillor McMillan by email or give him a call at 807-407-2005 or 807-467-2005.

About Councillor McMillan

McMillan is a retired program administrator with the Ministry of Community and Social Services. His interests include community volunteer work, reading, music, watching local sports, working on small home projects, physical and mental health activities and summer road trips. He graduated from Lakehead University with an Honours Bachelor of Social Work and then attended the University of Manitoba where he received a Masters of Social Work – Administration.

Councillor Andrew Poirier

Councillor Andrew Poirier has more than 30 years of experience in public administration. He has previously served on City Council from 2003 to 2009. Poirier is happily married to his wife, Marj and father to his 14-year-old daughter, Chloe.

Contact Councillor Poirier

You can contact Councillor Poirier by email or give him a call at 807-466-2495.

About Councillor Poirier

He is currently the Manager of Operational Services at the Kenora Catholic District School Board and he is the Director on the Board for the Ontario School Board Insurance Exchange as well as the Treasurer of the Kenora Kinsmen Club. In his spare time, Poirier enjoys golfing, hockey and spending time at his trailer on Dogtooth Lake.

Councillor Kirsi Ralko

Councillor Kirsi Ralko is a litigation lawyer and independent business owner who lives in Kenora with her husband, Morgen. She is currently practicing with Shewchuk, Ormiston, Richardt & Johnson LLP, Barristers & Solicitors and was the co-founder of 1885 Wine & Whisky Room in downtown Kenora in 2018.

Contact Councillor Ralko

You can contact Councillor Ralko by email or give her a call at 807-464-0687.

About Councillor Ralko

Ralko was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario in 1990 and has been a resident of Kenora since 2014. She graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Lakehead University, with dual majors in General Management and Information Systems, and a minor in Finnish Language in 2012 before attending the Robson Hall Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in June 2016 and is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario. Ralko enjoys Kenora winters for the great venues to go kicksledding with her rescue dog, Cash.

Councillor Sharon Smith

Councillor Sharon Smith is retired from the Ministry of Natural Resources and has served as a City Councillor for more than eight years. She is a lifelong resident of Kenora where she lives with her partner Kirk and their children Shad and Arlyn.

Contact Councillor Smith

You can contact Councillor Smith by email or give her call at 807-407-2007.

Committee experience

Over the years, Smith has served on a variety of committees and boards:

• Town of Keewatin Planning Advisory Committee (Chair)
• Director of the Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation (seven years)
• Director Northwestern Health Unit (six years)
• Director Keewatin Non Profit Housing Corporation (six years)
• Director Lake of the Woods Development Commission (seven years)
• City of Kenora Tourism Committee (four years)
• Kenora Urban Trails Committee (four years)
• City of Kenora Accessibility Advisory Committee (10 years)
• Past President Keewatin Ladies Curling Club (eight years)

About Councillor Smith

In her spare time, Councillor Smith enjoys photography, gardening, bird watching, boating and he is a Harley Davidson motorcycling enthusiast.

Councillor Chris Van Welleghem

Councillor Chris Van Welleghem worked at a paper mill for 35 years where he was involved on a number of committees and union positions. He has served four years on City Council. He's been married to his wife Jane for 45 years and they have three adult sons and four grandchildren.

Contact Councillor Van Welleghem

You can contact Councillor Van Welleghem by email or give him a call at 807-464-2184.

About Councillor Van Welleghem

Councillor Van Welleghem was born and raised in Kenora, where he lived for 20 years at Lakeland Dairies with his parents, sibling and twin sister. Over the years, he has volunteered and coached a variety of hockey and baseball teams. In his spare time, Van Welleghem enjoys fishing, curling, golfing and playing baseball. He also belongs to a Corvette car club.