Port Alberni’s city council was sworn in last night, vowing to be accountable and respectful, and be collaborative leaders with integrity.
Mayor Sharie Minions told the packed council chambers that there has been a great deal of change in our community over the past 4 years, and there is real optimism about the future.
Councillor Dustin Dame is new to politics and says he plans to take direction from the public.
“I’m excited to represent a lot of diverse voices that I think don’t always feel represented,” he said. “I want to be out in the community having conversations and listening to people and finding out what’s important to them.”
The evening started with a ceremonial brushing, before both the Hupcasath and Tseshaht First Nations celebrated and saluted the new council, which was a first according to Mayor Sharie Minions.
“We feel incredibly fortunate to have had Tseshaht and Hupacasath welcome us to the start of this term in a really wonderful way,” she said. “The songs, we had a brushing earlier in the evening, we feel really fortunate to have them here and that they want to be here doing this with us.”
Minions said the new council will get to work right away at developing a new Official Community Plan, develop a master plan for the Somass lands and choose developers, and advance the pool project along with the ACRD.
Council will have an in-camera meeting today, and their first full council meeting in one week.
Comments