‘We are ready to get to work.’ Yellowknife’s mayor and council sworn in

Yellowknife’s new mayor says she is “very excited” about the team set to lead the city over the next four years and believes they can “build a sustainable future” together.

“Yellowknife has significant opportunities on the horizon but just as many pressing issues to address,” Melissa Syer said in a speech at a swearing-in ceremony at City Hall on Monday.

“We can address those issues and take advantage of those opportunities by working together, by giving clear direction and staying focused on the things that Yellowknifers care about.

“I speak for all of your new council when I say we are ready to get to work.”

The noontime event was attended by friends and family of the new mayor and council, former councillors, city staff, some Yellowknife MLAs, and Yellowknives Dene First Nation Chiefs Ernest Bestsina and Fred Sangris.

The ceremony began with a drum song by Yellowknives Dene drummers including new councillor Cody Drygeese, believed to be the first member of the First Nation elected to city council.

Outgoing mayor Ben Hendriksen advised the future mayor and councillors to be prepared for the unexpected and to keep each other accountable. He added that leadership is about prioritizing what you can get done with limited time and resources.

“You are here to represent all of Yellowknife, whether they voted for you or not or whether they voted at all. You are here to represent them whether they own their own home, rent, are underhoused or unhoused, or whether they are born and raised in Yellowknife or whether they’ve been here only a few months,” he said.

“Trust me when I tell you, Yellowknifers will not just look to one or two of you, they will look to all of you. I know I will be.”

‘We’re all here to care for Yellowknife’

Rob Warburton is among three councillors returning to City Hall from the previous council.

He believes the new group will be pragmatic about what the city can achieve, adding that more councillors this time around have previous municipal experience.

“It feels very different than the last council,” he said, describing this iteration as more experienced. “I think we ought to move a little quicker on some stuff.”

Rob Foote also returns to City Hall having joined the previous council last year, when Ben Hendriksen was elevated from his council seat to sit in the mayor’s chair following Rebecca Alty’s election as the territory’s MP.

Foote said he’s bringing that experience and knowledge and is more confident going into the next council, adding he is “really happy” with the new team.

“I think there’s a lot of intelligence and drive and motivation here, diverse perspectives, but also kind of a common theme that we’re all here to care for Yellowknife,” he said.

The new mayor and council will now go through orientation, but it won’t be long before they have to dive into the upcoming budget.

That’s top of mind for several councillors, including Keneisha Buddoo.

On Monday she said she was “excited, nervous, but ready to get started.”

“I think it’s an amazing group led by Melissa,” she said of the new council.

“We bring all our strengths and I think together we can get some work done for the next four years.”

Donna Lee Demarcke, who has previously served on Hay River’s town council, said one of her priorities as she begins on Yellowknife’s council is addressing affordability concerns and the city’s core responsibilities.

“I do think we have a very strong team and very motivated to get things done, so I’m excited to work with them,” she said.