Home World News Canada news New mayors elected in historic wins in Calgary and Edmonton
Canada news

New mayors elected in historic wins in Calgary and Edmonton

Share
new mayors elected in historic wins in calgary and edmonton
Share

Alberta’s two major cities are set to make history in their mayoral races after Monday’s municipal elections across the province.

Jyoti Gondek is to become Calgary’s first female mayor and Edmonton voters appear to have elected the city’s first person of colour as mayor.

Gondek will replace Naheed Nenshi, who held the city’s top job for more than a decade.

“Thank you, Calgary, with all of my heart,” Gondek said late Monday during her victory speech. “Thank you for engaging in democracy and sending a clear signal about what our future looks like.

“Thank you for embracing a vision of promise and opportunity.”

Nenshi responded to the unofficial results on social media.

“History. Made,” he wrote as he congratulated Gondek on her win. He, too, made history as the first Muslim mayor of a large North American city. Earlier Monday, he thanked Calgarians for giving him the “honour of his life.”

Gondek served as a city councillor in Calgary for four years, where she championed public transit, police reform and city growth.

‘We made the impossible possible’

Her mayoral campaign has focused on issues such as investing in transportation, getting more property tax dollars from the provincial government and making Calgary a “centre for excellence” to boost social, economic and environmental recovery.

In Edmonton, former federal cabinet minister Amarjeet Sohi, a Sikh immigrant from India, will become the city’s first mayor of South Asian origin.

“As an 18-year-old immigrant without much to my name, I had ambitions and dreams to build a better life in a new home — dreams that sometimes seemed impossible,” Sohi said during his victory speech late Monday. “Today, because of you, because of everyone in this room, we have made the impossible possible.”

new mayors elected in historic wins in calgary and edmonton
Amarjeet Sohi, flanked at his acceptance speech with his daughter Seerat (left) and wife Sarbjeet (right), will be elected as the next mayor of Edmonton. (CBC)

He was a city bus driver and an Edmonton city councillor before entering federal politics and serving as Minister of Natural Resources and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Sohi will take over from Don Iveson, who announced he wouldn’t run for re-election after serving two terms as mayor. In a statement, Iveson said Edmonton will thrive under Sohi’s leadership.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mayor-elect Sohi during his time as (a) city councillor and have always appreciated and been inspired by how hard he has worked for our community,” said Iveson.

Both newly elected mayors were leading with about 45 per cent of the votes with almost all polls reporting.

Referendum question on ballots

The election results, which also included mayors, councillors and school board trustees across the province, will be made official Friday.

Edmonton Elections said more than 229,000 residents voted in the municipal election. In Calgary, voter turnout exceeded 382,000 people — though neither tally is finalized.

Provincial referendum questions on the federal equalization program and daylight time were also on the ballot. Elections Alberta said those results won’t be available until Oct. 26.

Voters in Calgary were asked in a plebiscite about whether to return fluoride to the city’s drinking water. Unofficial results show the majority voting in favour.

Share

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Posts

Related Articles
Drug precursors the new 'primary threat' entering Canada as fentanyl imports drop
Canada news

New Focus on Drug Precursors: The Evolving Battle Against Fentanyl in Canada

As Canada grapples with a devastating opioid crisis, law enforcement agencies are...

This boy hurt in collision didn't have an Indian status card, so Ottawa wouldn't pay for medical evacuation
Canada news

Family Calls for Change After Young Boy Denied Medical Evacuation Due to Status Card Issue

The family of a seven-year-old boy from the Deer Lake First Nation...

B.C. village mourns deaths of 2 longtime residents in landslide
Canada news

Tragedy Strikes Lions Bay: Community Grieves Loss of Beloved Couple in Landslide

The picturesque village of Lions Bay, located just 25 minutes north of...

This Alberta town has mountains on one side, Calgary on the other — and some big growing pains
Canada news

Cochrane, Alberta: A Town in Transition Faces Growing Pains Amidst Rapid Expansion

Nestled in a stunning river valley at the base of the majestic...