Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 08/00) - Council chambers were filled Monday night as the new mayor and councillors were sworn into office.
Mayor Gord Van Tighem and councillors Wendy Bisaro, Robert Hawkins, Dave Ramsay, Dave McCann, Ben McDonald, Kevin O'Reilly and Alan Woytuik were supported by their families and friends as they pledged to honour their duties and serve the citizens of Yellowknife over the next three years.Coun. Blake Lyons was unable to attend as he was out of town on business.
He will be sworn in at a later date.
The ceremony was conducted by The Honourable Justice Ted Richard.
Dave Lovell was in attendance, congratulating Van Tighem as he stepped down from the mayor's chair one last time.
After the oaths were taken and the documents signed, Van Tighem got right down to business.
"The fun is over I guess. Now it's time to start the work," he said.
The first item of business was to appoint a deputy mayor, assistant deputy mayor and chairpersons and members of the various committees of council.
The councillors unanimously agreed to appoint Dave McCann as deputy mayor and Blake Lyons as assistant deputy mayor.
The first big task for the new mayor and council is to tackle the budget next month.
Then, Van Tighem said he would like to update the city's General Plan.
"We have to take it off the shelf, dust it off and put it into reality," he said.
