This morning, our newly elected mayor and council officially took their seats at the table in City Hall, where they will serve the community for the next four years.

The mayor and council elect were led into Council Chambers by the Lekwungen Traditional Dancers.

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Then, a land acknowledgement was conducted by Songhees Nation Councillor Margaret Charlie before the council members took the oath of office. 

Mayor Marianne Alto delivered an inaugural address, where she started by thanking everyone who came today— including the Lekwungen dancers, Councillor Charlie and Chief Rob Thomas from the Esquimalt Nation, for sharing and working together for the lands and waters we live on.

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“We take seriously the responsibility of which you remind us—that we are at this table just for moments in time’s passage,” said Alto. “We have seven generations to consider as we make decisions that affect all those lands and waters.”

Alto also thanked all the members of council she has served with in years past, who came to the table in the interest of service and gave their best to the city.

The newly elected council is as follows:
 

• Marianne Alto – Mayor-Elect
• Dave Thompson – Councillor-Elect
• Krista Loughton – Councillor-Elect
• Susan Kim – Councillor-Elect
• Stephen Hammond – Councillor-Elect
• Marg Gardiner – Councillor-Elect
• Matt Dell – Councillor-Elect
• Christopher Mark Coleman – Councillor-Elect
• Jeremy Caradonna – Councillor-Elect