Former Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun has been named the new municipal adviser for the City of Kamloops.

Braun, who served two terms as Mayor between 2014 and 2022, was chosen by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to act as a neutral third party to guide Kamloops Mayor and Council through its conflicts.

Speaking on NL Mornings, Councillor Nancy Bepple said she hopes Braun will be able to help address the challenges at Kamloops City Hall.

“Somebody who has a huge amount of experience in local government, he was a councilor and then a Mayor in the Fraser Valley – in Abbotsford – so, he has walked in our shoes and I look forward to working with him,” Bepple said.

Braun is expected to bring back recommendations in June, with Bepple noting she is eager are hopeful that council will be able to find a way forward.

“We want to be able to accomplish the goals that are set out in the strategic plan, which 100 per cent of the city council agreed to,” she said. “So any way we can move forward and accomplish those things in a good way I think is something I would look forward to.”

“I can’t say what Henry Braun’s plans are. He would have to speak for himself on how he wants to accomplish his part of the role.”

Braun, who also served one term as Abbotsford City Council before he was elected mayor, replaces former Langley Mayor Peter Fasbender was originally appointed to the role in December but was relieved of his duties without any explanation not long after.

In September of last year, Kamloops Council reached out to the province asking for help in dealing with the “dysfunction and discord” that has plagued Mayor and Council since they took office in the fall of 2022.

Braun’s appointment comes one week after Councillor Kelly Hall said a new municipal adviser could be assigned to Kamloops “in the not to distant future.”