It’s official: The city of Montreal has renewed Valérie Plante’s term as mayor and has sworn in her new council, one that is touted as the most diverse in the city’s history.
One by one, the councilors and mayors of the districts were proclaimed elected by the city secretary Thursday night during the swearing-in ceremony at the Palais des Congrés in downtown Montreal.
Once sworn in, Mayor Plante signed the city’s golden book with her two children and her husband by her side.
In his speech, he promised to listen to Montréal and stay abreast of the realities on the ground.
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She said the diversity of the newly elected council is a reflection of the city, something she said she was proud of.
Almost 60 percent of the 103 elected positions in the city of Montreal will be held by women.
Plante added that he is proud to have the city’s first elected official living with limited mobility: Laurence Parent. The father was elected councilor in the municipality of Plateau-Mont-Royal.
Plante also mentioned that she is happy to work with Dominique Olivier, the first black woman to lead the city’s executive committee. Olivier, who was elected councilor in Vieux-Rosemont, will become Plante’s new right-hand man.
The mayor also touted the city’s pandemic recovery, saying it is one of the best in North America and promising to continue in that direction, while also making the city safer, greener and more affordable.
Plante is expected to announce its executive committee next week.
–With files from The Canadian Press and Gloria Henriquez, Global News
Reference-globalnews.ca