Meet our Town Council

In my working career, I spent 10 years in the oil and gas industry, another 10 years in the hotel industry, and 20 years as General Manager of the Innisfail Golf Club. I’m now in my 20th year of serving on Town Council.

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed extensive community involvement and served as a proud member of Innisfail Kinsmen and Rotary Clubs. I currently hold membership with the Innisfail Golf Club and the Innisfail Flying Club, and enjoy flying out of the Innisfail Airport. Some of my other leisurely pursuits include camping, quadding and supporting the ‘Help Alberta Wildies’ group in its advocacy of wild horses.

I welcome and encourage citizen dialogue. If you have questions, concerns or comments about the Town, or would simply like to chat, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

My family roots go back more than 100 years in the Innisfail area. After completeing high school, I left to pursue higher education and career opportunities. I returned to Innisfail 15 years ago, after living in Edmondton for 25 years. I have been a business owner both in Edmondton and Innisfail, and also have worked in the financial services industry. Recently, I retired from RBC, where I held roles as a Financial Advisor and a Financial Planner. I also spent 15 years as a member of the Canadian PGA and worked at a private club in Edmonton and was fortunate to spend some time playing on the Futures, Players West and duMaurier women’s golf tours.

I have served as a board member of the Alberta PGA,  the Rotary Club of Innisfail and the Innisfail Chamber of Commerce. My current volunteer roles include family advisor with the David Thompson Health Advisory Council and the Seniors Health-Strategic Clinical Network. I also coordinate a dementia support group in the community.

An active lifestyle is very important to me and I enjoy cycling, running, golfing, skiing, photography, and spending time at the dog park and the Napoleon Lake trails. I am an avid reader and enjoy primarily non-fiction books on topics of leadership, business, politics, and economics.

I am looking forward to serving the citizens of Innisfail in my role as councillor.

I was raised on a farm/ranch near Strathmore, which was designated a family century farm in 2007 by the province of Alberta.

I graduated from the University of Calgary in 1972 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering (with distinction).

Iworked for Procter and Gamble in Grand Prarie as an engineer and manager for five years. I moved to Innisfail in 1976 and worked for Johns Mansville for 25 years, as Plant Engineer, Plant Manager, Sales Manager, and Regional Manager — in charge of all Canadian Operations. I recieved extensive management and operations training and was the president of Johns Mansville Canada.

After leaving Johns Mansville, I worked for 20-20 Auto Repair as Service Advisor and then Bilton Welding & Manufacturing in sales and estimating.

My wife, Frankie, and I raised our boys in Innisfail, participating in their education and recreation activities. Aslo, I have seven grandchildren three of which are growing up in our fine community. I was a 20 year member of the Rotary Club and actively volunteered 25 years with Heart and Stroke.

I am retired, but find myself busy with family, my second term on Innisfail Town Council and recreational activities.

I enjoy golfing at Innisfail’s world-class club and trap, and skeet shooting at the Lone Pine target club. 

I was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in December 1959 and moved to Penhold in 1961 and then to Innisfail in 1963. I attended school in Innisfail and graduated from Innisfail Junior/Senior High School in 1977. I married Wendy Buker in July of 1979 and our son Shane was born in 1980, followed by twins Karla and Kevin (born in the old Innisfail Hospital, a rare occasion). Shane and Christal have three sons – Bergen, Oliver and Rhys – and Kevin and Stephanie have one son – Brayden.

In 1980, Brian Spiller and I started our company – Fourman Dairy Distributors – which we operated until January 2008. In 1994, we were awarded the Innisfail Small Business of the Year award.

I have been a member of various local organizations through the years including: Innisfail Minor Hockey, Innisfail Ringette, a charter member of the Optimist Club of Innisfail, Innisfail Community Bus Society and I have been on the executive of Royal Canadian Legion Branch for the past 20 years – serving two years of that as President and four years as Chairman.

I was presented with the Innisfail Community Builder Award in 2003. I was also presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in October 2012 by MP Earl Dreeshen.

I was elected to Innisfail Town Council in 2013 and 2017, and am excited to be serving for four more years.

Don Harrison is a first-time Innsfail Councillor. He joined council in June of 2020 .