The new city council was sworn in at city hall on Monday. That includes Adrian Bell, left, Steve Payne, Niels Konge, Linda Bussey, Mayor Mark Heyck, Rebecca Alty, Julian Morse, Shauna Morgan and Rommel Silverio. - Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo |
New Yellowknife city council sworn in
Budget process begins next week
Simon Whitehouse
Northern News Services
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Many new faces and a few familiar ones returned to city council chambers to recite their oath of office Monday afternoon.
Even after an election, according to the Cities, Towns and Villages Act of the NWT, a council is not in power until the oath takes place.
About 40 people, including city staff, attended the swearing-in ceremony, which was conducted by Justice Karan Shaner.
Of those taking oaths of office, Rommel Silverio is believed by the mayor and Silverio himself to be the city's first Filipino councillor.
"Filipinos have always been in Yellowknife but this is the first time we have had a representative on the council. I am the first generation immigrant," he said, adding he doesn't just represent Filipinos but other immigrants, including those from Vietnam and Bangladesh.
"They helped me and were happy because they feel the same way I feel. It is a joy, a happiness and a pride for Filipinos."
Silverio was wearing a beige Barong Tagalog, or embroidered shirt, which is the custom garment Filipino men wear for special occasions like weddings, baptisms or victories. He also brought his wife Janice, mother Priscilla and three children.
"I am very proud of him and this is something he had been wanting to do for a long time," said Janice.
Allison Anderson, wife of two-term Coun. Adrian Bell, said she was happy to be present because city affairs are a large part of Bell's life.
"I'm happy to see that his hard work and dedication was recognized when he was re-elected and I see how much effort he puts into this," she said. "Adrian gets up at 5:30 a.m. every morning."
The event was the first swearing-in ceremony for Dennis Kefalas, senior administrative officer, as his predecessor Bob Long oversaw the last one in 2012. Long is now the city manager with the City of Prince Rupert.
At least two former city councillors were present including Paul Falvo and Cory Vanthuyne.
Vanthuyne - running alongside fellow former councillor Dan Wong as well as Edwin Castillo, Sean Erasmus and Ben Nind for the Yellowknife North seat in the legislative assembly - was seen taking photos with some of the newly sworn in councillors and offering tips to brand new councillors which, aside from Silverio, include Julian Morse, Steve Payne and Shauna Morgan.
"I remember I felt lost in a 300-page document and moving into the budget was the hardest aspect. It was arduous," said Vanthuyne.
Morse said he was looking forward to the orientation the city is set to hold next week, which will show new councillors the ropes and give them a chance to visit municipal sites.
"It was exciting and it felt very significant, I suppose," Morse said of the ceremony, admitting his November was likely going to be very busy as he studies the city budget.
"It felt like 'Wow, OK, the election is over, I'm in and now we have to get down to business.' I'm excited to get the budget in my hands and get working on it and it is going to be a learning curve for me."
Re-elected councillors said they were looking forward to continuing on for another term. Linda Bussey was supported by her husband Eric, while Rebecca Alty's mother Vivian Hansen and sister Abby Alty were both there.
Similarly, Niels Konge's wife, Renee Lelievre, daughter Tegan, and son Leo were on hand.
