For the first time in the Trust’s 21-year history, the daughter of a previous Board member has been appointed to the Board of Directors. Julie Maitland has served on the Village of Hazelton Council since 2018, first as a Councillor and then as Mayor in October 2022. Born and raised on Gitxsan Territory in the Village of Hazelton, Julie has lifelong connections to the northwest through family, politics and work.
“Joining the Northern Development Board is an honour and I look forward to working alongside my fellow board members to advance economic growth and resilience throughout Northern B.C. while bringing my local perspectives to the table,” said Maitland. “The Trust is one of those steadfast organizations that is quietly working in the background of our political landscape to support people and communities. As we know, change is a constant, and it is the role of the Board to provide direction to ensure the Trust continues to be reliable and responsive to the needs of the region.”
Julie Maitland is the daughter of Alice Maitland, the previous Mayor of the Village of Hazelton. Alice Maitland was appointed to the Northern Development Board in January 2017 by the Northwest Regional Advisory Committee, the same committee who appointed Julie to the Board in 2026.
“Having the pleasure of serving on the same Board with two generations of the same family is an incredibly rare opportunity,” said Chair Margo Wagner. “Alice and I sat around the same Board table early in my tenure on the Board and now Julie has taken a seat at the same table. The Maitland name has a strong legacy of championing people and projects in rural B.C. and their impact has positively impacted their direct community and beyond. At the same time, the Board sincerely thanks Gladys for her commitment to the North through both her time with us at the Northern Development Board and all of her other work in northwest B.C.”
Maitland joins the Board after Gladys Atrill, Mayor of Smithers, stepped down. Atrill served on the Board for three years and provided valuable insight and perspectives into a variety of industries and topics, including transportation, natural resources and other goings on in northwest B.C. and around the province.
Photo: Darrin Rigo
To learn more about the Trust’s governance structure, visit: Northern Development – Board Governance
