Pearl Lorentzen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeside Leader
Louis A Cardinal is running for re-election to represent Peerless Lake on M.D. of Opportunity council.
Cardinal has been on M.D. council for two terms.
Asked why he is running, Cardinal says, “people started phoning me to go for one more term.”
The Peerless M.D. council position “is going to end,” he adds. “No one knows how long it is going to take.”
Peerless Lake and Trout Lake are in transition from being hamlets to being reserves in Peerless Trout First Nation (PTFN). Small sections of each were made reserve in 2025, but the rest is still up in the air. The M.D. has transferred all assets to PTFN and has completed its part. However, the process is waiting on the federal government.
The transfer of assets also makes the Peerless M.D. council role unusual, adds Cardinal, in that there are very few services that the M.D. still supplies for Peerless residents. Most of the services are done by PTFN.
However, if elected Cardinal still hopes to represent the community on council.
“It’s been good working with the councillors,” he says, “from around the communities and getting to know them. At the table, everyone has something to fight for.”
The Government of Alberta, PTFN and other First Nations in the area are working together to pave Hwy. 686 between Red Earth Creek and Trout Lake and to extend the highway to Fort McMurray.
“I think that’s one of the things that we’re going to work on, on council,” says Cardinal. “Make sure some of the local people work on the project. A pavement is definitely needed between here and the outside world.”
Hwy. 686 is the only way into the community in the summer. It is a rough gravel road between Red Earth Creek and Peerless.
“We fight that road,” says Cardinal.
Charles Orr
The other candidate is Charles Orr. The Leader was not able to track down contact information for him by press time.