Brandon’s new council sworn in

Dozens of people watched on Monday evening as new and returning Brandon council members took an oath of office to officially mark the start of their terms.

The evening started with a piper and first responders walking the 11 members in and circling around 50 attendees.

City manager Dave Wardrop congratulated councillors and said he is “looking forward” to working with them during the next four-year term.

Members, some choosing to swear on a Bible and some not, said they will “truly, faithfully and impartially, and to the best of my knowledge and ability execute the duties and responsibilities of that office.”

They also signed documents and posed for photos with Associate Judge Robert Patterson.

Four new members were elected on Oct. 28, including Rob Shaluk (Ward 1), Deveryn Ross (Ward 2), Craig Shanks (Ward 3) and Norah Woychyshyn (Ward 9).

Mayor Jeff Fawcett, along with councillors Shaun Cameron (Ward 4), Greg Hildebrand (Ward 5), Shawn Berry (Ward 7) and Tyson Tame (Ward 10) were re-elected. Coun. Bruce Luebke (Ward 6) ran unopposed and was acclaimed.

Fawcett thanked all candidates for putting their names forward and said Brandon is “stronger” because of them.

He said serving on council is a “tremendous honour and privilege.” While there will be disagreements and healthy debate, members need to remember that they are serving residents.

“We can disagree respectfully, challenge one another thoughtfully and still work together towards the same goal,” Fawcett said.

He said the city will continue supporting new housing and improving the city’s downtown.

Working with Indigenous communities, CFB Shilo, the city’s schools and other levels of government is also important, he said.

“Brandon has tremendous momentum. Our responsibility now is to build on that momentum together; the shared commitment to progress, collaboration and service,” Fawcett said. “Thank you everyone and let’s get back to work.”

During the roughly hour-long ceremony, Shaluk said he is thankful to his family and is “ready to get to work” to make his ward and the city better.

After the event, Shaluk said along with training and getting acclimated to the job, his first order of business will be to get up to speed on the roundabout planned for the intersection of 18th Street North and Braecrest Drive, as the city is hosting an open house at 4 p.m. today at the Sportsplex about the project. Construction of the roundabout is expected to start in the spring.

He said the swearing-in ceremony “feels very official” and he could feel the importance of the role.

Ross told the crowd that he is especially thankful to his wife for her support, and highlighted his son, Duncan Ross, who was himself being sworn in at the same time as a Brandon School Division trustee. He also thanked Ward 2 residents, saying, “I will not let you down.”

He later said that orientation earlier in the day and everything else that has happened so far “can easily feel like grabbing a moving train,” especially since only four of the 11 members are new to the role and essentially have to catch up.

“That can be really daunting because there’s a lot of reading to do,” Ross said.

Ross said he is going to work on issues around transparency, saying Brandon’s government needs to do a better job of complying with the Municipal Act.

Shanks said he “looks forward” to being the councillor for Ward 3 over the next few years and that he’s humbled for the support he received in the election.

Speaking to the Sun, Shanks said he doesn’t have any “high priorities” right now, and that there aren’t many big issues in his ward. He added that he will try to make a difference around the council table.

Woychyshyn thanked those who supported her and encouraged her to run. She said she hopes to represent Brandon well, along with supporting women, adding she will “do my best.”

Woychyshyn after the ceremony said she has already made lists of the priorities she has for Ward 9, including public safety and working on homeless encampments, drugs and alcohol, infrastructure and empty housing.

She said councillors need to keep in mind that while they represent the whole city, they still need to represent their ward specifically.

The first city council meeting is Nov. 16.

» alambert@brandonsun.com