New Halifax council sworn in, predominantly women for first time
9 of the 16 Halifax council seats are now held by women
A new Halifax regional council has been officially sworn in, with a different face in the mayor's chair for the first time in 12 years and more women than ever before.
A large crowd gathered at the Central Library's Paul O'Regan Hall in downtown Halifax on Tuesday night for the event, where Chief Justice of Nova Scotia Michael Wood administered the oaths of office to 16 councillors and the mayor.
New Mayor Andy Fillmore thanked the outgoing Mike Savage for his service, and Savage draped the large gold chain of office around his shoulders.
"The fact that just about half the faces around the table are new is a clear indication that this is a time of change in HRM," Fillmore said in his first speech as mayor.
"We've all been hired to improve where we live, how we get around and to make sure that both are accessible to everyone."
Besides Fillmore, seven of the 16 councillors are new to council.
Fillmore said he's proud to be the mayor for a council that is predominantly female for the first time — nine of the 16 councillors are women. Council hit gender parity for the first time in the last election.
"That feels amazing. I'm so happy because, you know, more women, the better things run," Virginia Hinch, a first-time councillor in the district of Halifax Peninsula North, said with a laugh after the event.
Hinch is the second Black woman to be elected to regional council, behind Iona Stoddard, who won in 2020 but lost in last month's election.
But Hinch, who grew up in the North End's Uniacke Square, said she's especially proud to be the first African Nova Scotian woman to be elected to council as Stoddard is originally from Ontario.
African Nova Scotians are a distinct people who descend from free and enslaved Black Loyalists, refugees, Maroons and others who have been in Nova Scotia for more than 400 years. They form the largest indigenous Black population in Canada with dozens of historic communities throughout the province.
"My priorities are definitely housing and also to bring more diversity to council as well," Hinch said. "I hope that the our young African Nova Scotian ladies will step up to the plate after me and take the challenge."
Another new councillor, John Young of the district of Hammonds Plains - Upper Hammonds Plains - Lucasville - Middle & Upper Sackville, is the first African Nova Scotian to be elected for that area.
"I'm standing on the shoulders of the people who came before me, so it's really nice," Young told reporters.
Coun. Patty Cuttell of Spryfield - Sambro Loop, who was elected for her second term, said it's been great to talk and start planning with the new councillors because that didn't happen last time.
The 2020 municipal election was in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and all of council's early meetings were online.
"We didn't have that opportunity to learn from each other or have those discussions, or share those ideas, or ask those questions," Cuttell said. "So I think this will be a really different experience, and I'm really looking forward to it."
Fillmore said it's clear the council will be tackling issues of traffic congestion, transit and affordability.
On housing and homelessness, Fillmore said in his speech that it's encouraging to see more affordable housing being built, provincial investments in temporary shelters and the three levels of government "focused on bringing … a compassionate end to the era of encampments here in HRM."
Since winning the race for mayor in the Oct. 19 municipal election, Fillmore told reporters he's spoken with Premier Tim Houston and Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr.
His conversation with Lohr was an opportunity to "reset the relationship" between the municipal and provincial governments, Fillmore said, adding that it's critical to address housing and other issues.
Fillmore also said he's spoken with NDP Leader Claudia Chender and Liberal Leader Zach Churchill in the past, and whatever the outcome of the current provincial election, "I'm ready to work with anybody who wants to get the good work done."
Council's first meeting is next Tuesday, Nov. 12.
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