Meet Melissa Syer, Yellowknife’s next mayor

Melissa Syer will become Yellowknife’s next mayor after a sweeping win in Monday’s municipal election.

The former naval warfare officer won 4,041 votes over outgoing city councillor Garett Cochrane’s 1,482.

Compared to her rival for the role, Syer had a lower public profile before she announced her candidacy last month.

Syer said she first moved to Yellowknife 10 years ago and quickly fell in love with the city.

Prior to that, she said she spent 18 years in the Canadian Armed Forces.

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“I drove warships. I specialized in anti-submarine warfare. I commanded teams and eventually became deputy commanding officer of the recruiting office, responsible for more than 70 military members across Prairies and the North,” said Syer at a debate earlier this month.

She said work at Yellowknife’s Joint Task Force North, including helping to plan northern military training exercise Operation Nanook, had prepared her for the city’s top job.

“That career taught me to stay calm under pressure, take care of people, do my homework, plan for the unexpected and make difficult decisions when they need to be made,” she said.

After she left the military, Syer said she worked as a departmental capital planner for the GNWT.

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She also served for three years as the executive director of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce.

Most recently, she worked as the City of Yellowknife’s manager of economic opportunities, investments and partnerships.

Syer has a six-year-old daughter. Her campaign website describes her as “a voracious reader, a runner” and someone who is happiest spending time with her family.

Policy positions

Syer has said she wants to be strategic about the billions of dollars in federal defence spending coming to the territory.

“Yellowknife is at a critical moment. Federal eyes are on the North in a way we haven’t seen before, particularly with major defence and Arctic investment. How the city positions itself during this period matters enormously,” she said.

That includes, she said, being at the table with federal partners, “making the case for Yellowknife” and talking about the municipality’s needs and its ageing infrastructure.

She said the ramifications of defence spending – and JTFN’s possible expansion – on things like water and sewer infrastructure and housing must be taken into account.

“Their investment in our city is wonderful, but with it comes a responsibility to make sure that Yellowknifers who live here already continue to thrive with these investments,” said Syer.

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Melissa Syer looks at election results on Monday evening. Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio

Syer wants to create a more streamlined process for developers to get permits to build in the city, as well as encourage a culture shift when it comes to the customer service provided in those interactions.

“Someone comes to us with an idea for a development, more housing, interest in land – I want it to be: ‘Yes, and let’s work together,'” said Syer.

On more hot-button items like the possible development of Tin Can Hill, Syer said this month she was open to the idea but only as a “last resort.”

Syer also said she’d like to see the Aurora College campus move into the city’s mall.

In outlining her vision for the city, Syer said she wants to protect what she feels makes it special, while being strategic about its future.

“I want this to be a city people choose, where people can find housing, build a career or a business, raise a family, and have a good quality of life,” she said.

What comes next?

Speaking on Monday evening before the final election results were available, Syer described council as “very much a team sport” with the mayor as leader and chair of the board.

“There are a lot of important things that need to be addressed, and we need to acknowledge that we can only get so much done. I’d really like to see focus on what it is we can achieve in the next three years,” she said as her victory became apparent.

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