Don Iveson reflects on eight years as Edmonton’s mayor during final council meeting

EDMONTON (CityNews) ─ Don Iveson was met with a standing ovation Tuesday from his colleagues.

After eight years at the municipal helm, the Edmonton mayor took part in his final council meeting after choosing not to seek re-election.

“It was a difficult decision not to run again,” Iveson told city council. “Because I still believe really powerfully in local democracy.”

Iveson was elected to his first of two terms as a city councillor in 2007. In 2013, he was voted to the top job with 63 per cent support. He grabbed an even larger chunk in 2017, pulling in 72 per cent of all ballots.

“Councillors across four very different councils, each one of which I learned something from,” he said. “Each person I’ve had a chance to interact with here, I’ve learned a valuable leadership lesson from.”

Iveson’s tenure saw an emphasis on transit, homelessness and green policy. He also chaired the Big City Mayors’ Caucus, often claiming municipalities had to lead the way on issues that the province and feds were reluctant to tackle.

Even during his final meeting on Tuesday, he shared a letter signed alongside eight neighbouring mayors calling for a provincial vaccine passport.

“It’s why local governments across the country should be entrusted with more responsibility, not less, treated like the leaders that we are, given the opportunity to help solve the real problems that defied our province and our country and our world.”

Iveson hasn’t said what’s in store in his post-mayoral career. But he’s adamant that whoever fills his shoes has the responsibility to lead a more inclusive political conversation.

“A country as divided as this, a province as divided as this, the city seems to be the place where we can hold fast, where we can define an ‘us’ that includes everyone.”