Prince George officially has a new City Council.
The new Council, elected on October 17, took their Oaths of Office and were sworn in at City Hall Monday evening during the Inaugural Meeting of Council by Judge Cassandra Malfair.
The evening started with a welcome from Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan, who spoke on the close relationship between the Lheidli T’enneh and the local governments.
“My hope is that the next chapter of our relationship is defined not simply by partnerships which remain, but as new opportunities we create together,” she said. “To the newly elected Mayor and Council, again, congratulations, you have been entrusted in an important responsibility, and I wish each of you the success as you begin your new term.”
After new Mayor Garth Frizzell was sworn in, outgoing Mayor Simon Yu bestowed the Mayor’s Chain of Office upon Frizzell.
“The Chain of Office is a long-standing tradition in local government, with roots going back hundreds of years to Britain,” said City Manager Walter Babicz. “It’s a symbol of the Mayor’s role as the official representative of our community, and of the weight of the responsibility and trust that comes with serving in that role.”
After Yu gave Frizzell the Chain of Office, Frizzell gave Yu a blank notebook, which each Mayor of Prince George will write in to give advice to all the Mayors following them.
Following the Oaths of Office, Frizzell gave his inaugural address.
“Two weeks ago, we looked out at a city with some pretty serious challenges. Affordability, housing supply, public safety, layoffs, mill closures, and that’s just to name a few. Those don’t go away with a new Council or with promises at election time,” Frizzell said, “but they get better, and they get better with hard, focused, relentless work by quality people. This Council, dominated by new faces, brings with it the values, the skills and the experience that Prince George is going to need in the years ahead.”
LISTEN: Mayor Garth Frizzell’s Inaugural Address:
Following Frizzell’s inaugural address, each of the new City Councillors were given a brief opportunity to speak, give thanks to those who helped and stood by them to get elected, as well as lay out some priorities for the upcoming term.
After Council spoke there was some business to attend to, such as setting the Acting Mayor’s schedule and appointing members to sit on the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George Board.
Mayor Frizzell was appointed as a Municipal Director for the Regional District Board, as well as Councillors Skakun, Klassen and Fraser. Councillor Pears was chosen to be a Floating Primary Alternate Municipal Director, while the remaining four Councillors will be secondary alternates.
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