Tributes for departing Council members, thanks from returning or newly elected ones as Prince Rupert City Council installed in office

City Council members took the oath of office Monday night, launching
the next term for municipal government in Prince Rupert

The night was one big on ceremony, but short in time consumption as the new Prince Rupert City Council took their places Monday night in Council chambers to take their oath of office and event that took less than twenty minutes from start to finish.

With a colour party made up of RCMP members and those from the Prince Rupert Fire/Rescue Department the Canadian flag was brought into the Chamber with a welcome provided by Lax Kw'alaams Hereditary Chief Sm'ooygit Niist'ooyx Alex Campbell.

Retired Judge Herman Seidemann then asked each of the council members  in the Chamber and remotely to recite the oath of office towards their duties on behalf of the people of Prince Rupert.

In attendance in Chamber for the swearing in ceremony was Councillor Barry Cunningham, Councillor Reid-Skelton Morven, Councillor Wade Niesh, and Councillor Gurvinder Randhawa 

Participating by remote video link were Councillor Nick Adey and Councillor Teri Forster. 

Though as Judge Seidemann reminded those participating remotely, they cannot participate in municipal business until a signed oath is delivered to the Corporate Administrator. 

Towards the mayor's Installation in Office,  Mayor Herb Pond donned the ceremonial robe and chain of office and recited his oath after the Council had done so.

With the official ceremony portion of the evening complete, Mayor Pond then moved the evening forward. making note of MLA Jennifer Rice as being in the Chamber as was Port Edward Mayor Knut Bjorndal.

Mr. Pond also relayed his thanks to Judge Seidemann and Chief Campbell for their assistance on the ceremonial aspects of the evening.

The Mayor then began with the first of a pair of tributes to the former Mayor Lee Brain and former Councillor Blair Mirau.

Speaking first to Councillor Mirau, Mr. Pond recounted some early notes from the start of the Councillor's political career and perhaps a prompt to keep his options open for a future run for the mayor's Chair.

"All of us City Staff, myself, your existing former Council mates and all of us gathered here want to acknowledge your eight years of service to the community. I wrote a little note in the card and it starts, I'm not your average 24 year old.

And that's really how it all started eight years ago and I can say solidly that we can all agree that you weren't your average twenty four year old.

It's really a mixed feeling that we have, I remember calling you when I heard that you might not be running again. And I had two emotions, one as a citizen: I said ooh I hope he runs again and if he doesn't  run again I hope he runs for Mayor.

But as a guy that's known you literally all your life I was pleased that you're taking time out for other things that are also important ... I'm not going to be in this chair forever, so if you want to warm up..."

Mayor Pond also called on former Mayor Lee Brain to come forward, speaking of the Mayor's work over eight years and the impact he had on the community.

"I'm a big believer for those that don't know, and not only I do believe it in my soul, but it's actually true. there's only one mayor at a time and up until three minutes ago it was him, right.

And I wasn't Mr. Mayor I wan't anything like that, had there been an emergency even up to 7 o'clock you would have been calling him not me to do what needed to be done.

You've been an amazing Mayor, you've set a very high standard, I can't tell you how many people have said to me in spite of the fact that they know I have experience, that I've got huge shoes to fill and I never disagreed with one of them.

You have set the bar very high, it's come at a great personal cost, I know that. I know the travel that sort of eats at you over ... you know the first couple of times, first couple of trips it's kind of fun.

But when you leave your wife and your daughter and head around to do the business that you have to do it starts to grind and you did with a smile on your face, you kept us well informed always ...

And so I want to give to you on behalf of the staff, on behalf of your fellow members of Council and on behalf of the community Mayor Lee Brain we just want to acknowledge you.

The Newly elected Mayor then noted of the ease of the transition that took place between the old administration and the new.

"And I also got to say that this man has made the transition amazingly smooth, we've spent a number of hours together several times going over issues, going over all the state secrets. Where the book of Secrets is hidden here,  all of that stuff I know it now, but I can't tell any of you"

With the farewells complete, Mr. Pond then spoke of the importance of the evening and the need for ceremony towards it.

"I also want to also acknowledge ... I feel like I'm in a choir here, I may get up and start signing ... I want to acknowledge the members of the RCMP and the Fire fighters that are here just adding pomp and ceremony to this really important changeover.

This to me is important stuff, when we gather here in this room, we're not just a social gathering, we're not a bunch of friends,  although we may be friendly. 

But we actually gather here to do the people's business and so before we close out the meeting I want to invite each member of council, if you wish, if you don't want to you don't have to but if you would like to make any statement at all and I'm going to start with those who are not present in the room."

Mr. Pond then turned the evening over to his fellow councillors for any final comments towards the night.

Towards those comments, the council members stuck mainly to the same script, offering thanks to the voters, tributes for Mr. Brain and Mr. Mirau and optimism for the new term of office.

Councillor Nick Adey expressed his regrets at not being able to attend the event and observed of his thanks to those who voted for him and his excitement at working with the new council.

Councillor Teri Forster also thanked those who helped her through the campaign and shared her excitement at joining what she called an amazing team. She also paid her tribute to both former Mayor Brain and Councillor Mirau.

Councillor Gurvinder Randhawa also thanked those who voted for him, as well as his family and supporters. He too offered his thanks to the outgoing duo of Mr. Brain and Mr. Mirau. He expressed his enthusiasm for the next four years.

Councillor Wade Niesh thanked those who voted for him as well,  noting of his third term ahead. observing as to how it was going to be a great four years. He also thanked Mayor Brain and Councillor Mirau.

Councillor Reid Skelton-Morven shared much the same sentiments, thanking those who supported him in the election campaign, he also paid tribute to both the former Mayor and former Councillor.

Councillor Cunningham, thanked those who supported him on election and also expressed his optimism for the next four years, observing that the framework has been in place through the work of the former Mayor and councillor for the work ahead. 

He also paid tribute to the work of City Staff over the last eight years and noted of all that they contribute to the city and how he looks forward to working with them over the next four years.

"More than anything, the thing I'd like to thank is the staff,  you know like our staff has been phenomenal and even though there's small changes in Council and that, the staff hasn't changed.

And we have depended on them so much for the last eight years,  and people just don't even know.

You know they think oh what do they do at City Hall, well I challenge anyone to spend a day in their desk. You know they are flat out all the time and it's going to be a pleasure working with them again for another four years."

You can review more notes from the Monday Installation ceremony from the City's Video archive below:

A wider overview of the Monday session is available through our Council Timeline.

Past notes on Council themes can be explored through our archive page here.