New Sault Ste. Marie council sworn in
Sault Ste. Marie’s new mayor and four new councillors, along with the rest of city council, took their respective oaths of office Tuesday night.
A full gallery greeted the 11-member council as they filed into the chamber for the first time.
Indigenous song and drumming preceded the new council as they took their seats for the inaugural meeting. Mayor Matthew Shoemaker was the first to speak, outlining the issues facing the city, such as the opioid crisis, housing and infrastructure.
“Everybody is looking forward to moving the community forward and putting forward their ideas for improving the city and hopefully we’ll be able to work collaboratively to get there over the next four years,” said Shoemaker.
There were four new faces at the council table.
Sonny Spina, a two-time federal Conservative candidate in Sault Ste. Marie, said he is ready to get to work.
“This first meeting was great for us to meet the public and really introduce ourselves as a city council to the public,” said Spina. “I’m excited that next week, right away, we get down to work, we start talking budget and we get down to really what needs to be done for the city.”
Angela Caputo, a local business owner, said despite the learning curve, she’s “ready to rock.”
“I love learning, I love facing new challenges, and I think I’ve always done so with a brave face and a certain degree of excitement,” said Caputo.
“It’s been a really great day,” said retired teacher Ron Zagordo.
“I was looking forward to this first meeting and it was wonderful meeting everybody and it looks like we’ve got a really great team here to work together with.”
Stephan Kinach, a dentist and third-generation Saultite, said he’s ready for the next four years.
“I understand that it’s going to be a lot of responsibility, and I look forward to it and I’m hoping to do a good job and to represent my area and my constituents well,” he said.
Rounding out the council table are Sandra Hollingsworth, Lisa Vezeau-Allen, Luke Dufour, Marchy Bruni, Corey Gardi and Matthew Scott.
The new council will have its first regular meeting Nov. 21.
Read more about how municipal governments work in Ontario here.
Find out how population density affects municipal budgets here.
CTV News spoke with some outgoing and former politicians in northeastern Ontario. Here is what they learned from their time in office.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.