Outgoing Yellowknife mayor Mark Heyck lands new job

Mark Heyck, the outgoing mayor of Yellowknife, will become the new executive director of the Arctic Energy Alliance.

Heyck served two terms as mayor of the city, where he was born and raised. He was first elected to council in 2003, becoming deputy mayor from 2006 to 2012.

In a news release on Monday, the Arctic Energy Alliance – a government-funded not-for-profit designed to promote clean energy and energy efficiency – said Heyck would start work on Tuesday, September 11.

“We are excited to have Mr Heyck as the incoming executive director,” read a short quote from John Vandenberg, the alliance’s president, praising Heyck’s “years of leadership experience as mayor.”

Heyck told Cabin Radio he will remain as mayor through to the end of the term, fulfilling the usual official duties, and “begin to assume responsibilities” related to the Arctic Energy Alliance in his remaining weeks at City Hall.

Any time he spends away from City Hall during that period will be treated as leave without pay, he said.

The news release stated Heyck had been a member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund Council from 2007 to 2017, as well as serving on the board of the NWT Association of Communities.

“We expect that Mr Heyck will provide exemplary leadership … going forward, and will ensure that the credibility and visibility of the organization with clients, residents and stakeholders remains high,” the news release added.

Heyck takes the helm of an organization with around 20 staff and an annual budget of around $3 million, with which it operates six regional offices.

His replacement as mayor will be decided on October 15, Yellowknife’s municipal election day. At the time of writing, there are four candidates: Rebecca Alty, Adrian Bell, Jerald Sibbeston, and Bob Stewart.