A longtime councillor and former mayor of the Town of Kensington has won the Bruce H. Yeo Memorial Award.
Councillor Ivan Gallant received the 2024 award at the Federation of PEI Municipalities (FPEIM) Annual General Meeting in the City of Charlottetown. The FPEIM award recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions to municipal government in Prince Edward Island.
Gallant began serving on Kensington town council in 1991 and remained until 2007, serving as mayor for more than three-and-a-half years at the end of that period. After some time away from municipal politics, he was again elected in 2018 as a councillor, a role he still holds.
The nomination submission described Gallant as instrumental in leading the town from a council-committee governance structure to a council-CAO structure. An advocate for progressive and sustainable municipalities, he is a board member and past president of the Federation of PEI Municipalities. In addition to his involvement in municipal government, he is a leader in local sport and sporting events.
“Ivan exemplifies what this award is all about,” said FPEIM President Bruce MacDougall. “For many years, he has worked to build his community through service to his local government and dedicated support of PEI municipal concerns. We are so pleased to honour him in this way.”
After receiving the award, Gallant thanked his family and the town’s former and current mayors and councillors, staff, and residents for their support. “It’s just an absolute honour to represent the great Town of Kensington and to have the opportunity to be involved in decisions moving the town forward,” he said.