Several new mayors elected across Alberta
Posted October 19, 2021 7:32 am.
Last Updated October 19, 2021 7:34 am.
Several new politicians have been elected to office in cities and towns across Alberta following the province’s civic elections–including a few that made history.
Amarjeet Sohi was elected the first-ever South Asian Mayor of Edmonton.
The 57-year-old former cabinet minister beat out eight other candidates to take over for longtime Edmonton mayor Don Iveson, who announced he would not run again last year. Iveson had been mayor since 2013.
“As a bus driver, councillor, and federal minister, I helped so many people move through this city,” Sohi said during his victory speech on Monday night.
“But tonight, I am the one who is moved by this city. It is my profound honour to say that I am the next mayor of Edmonton.”
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Sohi moved to Canada from India as a teenager, where he started as a bus driver before transitioning to local politics. He went on to serve federally as minister of infrastructure and communities for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s first cabinet, and then eventually took over the natural resources portfolio.
“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,” Sohi told an Edmonton crowd during his victory speech. “Dreams that sometimes seemed impossible, today, because of you, because of everyone in this room, we have made the impossible, possible.”
Several polls favoured Sohi to win going into the election, and the veteran politician proved them right, earning roughly 45 per cent of the vote.
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Meanwhile in Banff, since former mayor Karen Sorenson was appointed to the senate by the prime minister, town council chose Corrie Di Manno to replace her. Banff has evidently agreed with that decision, electing Di Manno to office.
Medicine Hat found its first-ever woman mayor in Louise Clark. She made history when she defeated incumbent Ted Clugston in a landslide victory.
Grande Prairie also had one for the books, Jackie Clayton will be the first female mayor the city has ever had after a tight race.
A few other new mayors were elected, including Tanya Thorn was elected in Okotoks, Jeff Colvin in Chestermere, and Jeff Acker in Spruce Grove.
