Westbank First Nation has a new chief

He's a community planner, educator, chair of Okanagan College and now Christopher Derickson can add another title to his list of accomplishments — Chief of the Westbank First Nation. 

Derickson, who has already served two terms as councillor, challenged one-term Chief Roxanne Lindley this election and edged her out 200 votes to 174.

It appeared the membership of the band wanted change as a number of new faces were elected to council. Lorrie Ann Hogaboam, Andrea Sandra Alexander as well as poll topper Jordan Coble from the Sncewips musem are new leaders while Fernanda Alexander was returned to council. 

Derickson also an executive MBA in Aboriginal and Business Leadership from Simon Fraser University; a Juris Doctor degree from UBC-Law; and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in political science from UBC-Okanagan.

Council will be sworn in Sept. 24.

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