Lac Ste. Anne County has appointed a new chief administrative officer (CAO), Ann Mitchell.
Mitchell will begin her role as CAO on Jan. 12, 2026, under a five-year term.
The county says Mitchell offers a proven record in effective municipal management, with expertise in strategic and business planning, policy development, resource allocation, human resource management, and working collaboratively with community stakeholders.
She has received a B.A. from Lakehead University, as well as a master certificate in municipal management from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a master’s in leadership from Royal Roads University, which focused on local government in Canada.
“Council is very pleased to welcome Ann Mitchell to Lac Ste. Anne County,” commented county Reeve Jurgen Preugschas. “Following a comprehensive recruitment process, council is confident that Ann will bring the experience, professionalism, and collaborative leadership needed to guide our administration and support council in delivering effective services to our residents.”
Mitchell said Lac Ste. Anne County is a community “with strong values and great potential,” and she looks forward to bringing council’s vision for the community to life.
Mitchell most recently served as CAO in Medicine Hat and is filing a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the municipality and its mayor. She was fired by the city council in October, and council cited violations under the respectful workplace policy as the cause for her termination.
“There was a provincial review into the situation in Medicine Hat, and in fact, I spoke with the person who wrote that review and [they] left us with no concerns,” Preugschas said. “After doing our due diligence, we just felt she was the best fit that we had applied for this position. And I think the residents, the ratepayers, can be very confident that this council is doing a much more thorough job than has been done in the past in terms of hiring and writing a contract that works for county residents.”
County council and the administration extend their appreciation to interim CAO Trista Court for her leadership during this transition period.
With files from CHAT News Today.
