City of Nanaimo welcomes new mayor and council

City of Nanaimo welcomes new mayor and council
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Leonard Krog has been elected mayor of Nanaimo.

Leonard Krog sworn-in as mayor of Nanaimo.

A new era in Nanaimo municipal politics began on Monday night with the swearing-in of mayor Leonard Krog and a council made up mostly of new faces.

The inaugural meeting was held at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.

It began with blessings from Snuneymuxw First Nation Elder Lolly Good and Reverend Clara Plamandon of St. Paul’s Anglican Church.

Judge J. Douglas Cowling then led the swearing-in of the 2018-2022 council beginning with longtime NDP MLA Krog as the city’s new mayor. He was followed by councilors Sheryl Dawn Armstrong, Don Bonner, Tyler Brown, Ben Geselbracht, Erin Hemmens, Zeni Maartman, Ian Thorpe and Jim Turley.

Outgoing mayor Bill McKay was also on hand and took the opportunity to address the incoming mayor and council.

“I cannot tell you how much you’ll enjoy the journey you’re embarking upon,” McKay said.

“Your community has high expectations of you, make us all proud.”

Mayor Leonard Krog then delivered his inaugural address.

He thanked all the volunteers who worked on his campaign and those of the other members of council.

“This is a good night for Nanaimo, this is a very good night for Nanaimo,” Krog said.

“It is clear that this community wants to move forward.”

Krog said he had no doubt Nanaimo is on the verge of many changes and that would include decisions that may not be popular with everyone.

He addressed ongoing opposition to subsidized housing offered to the city by the province to address a shortage of affordable accommodation by saying he believed those who are more vulnerable must be lifted up.

He also spoke of the need to improve the city’s downtown and that, after widespread dissatisfaction with the outgoing council, expectations for the new one are extremely high.

“I’ve been in political life long enough to understand this may be the happiest night of our four years,” he joked.

 

 

Ben O'HaraBen O'Hara

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