For the first time ever, there are more female Edmonton city councillors than male ones.
© Dean Twardzik, Global News
Edmonton City Hall pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020.
Emily Mertz 12 hrs ago
Read more: Edmonton election results coverage
With all polls reporting Tuesday morning, eight female candidates had been elected:
Keren Tang in Ward Karhiio
Ashley Salvador in Ward Métis
Sarah Hamilton in Ward sipiwiyinkiwak
Karen Principe in Ward tastawiyiniwak
Jo-Anne Wright in Ward Sspomitapi
Anne Stevenson in Ward O-day'min
Jennifer Rice in Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi
Erin Rutherford in Ward Anirniq
"I'm feeling great," said councillor-elect Stevenson. "It's a bit surreal but really wonderful.
"It's definitely a historic moment and so exciting.
"I think it really speaks to what Edmontonians have been wanting to see for a while and some really strong candidates stepped up and we've made history."
With all polls reporting Tuesday morning, eight female candidates had been elected:
Keren Tang in Ward Karhiio
Ashley Salvador in Ward Métis
Sarah Hamilton in Ward sipiwiyinkiwak
Karen Principe in Ward tastawiyiniwak
Jo-Anne Wright in Ward Sspomitapi
Anne Stevenson in Ward O-day'min
Jennifer Rice in Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi
Erin Rutherford in Ward Anirniq
"I'm feeling great," said councillor-elect Stevenson. "It's a bit surreal but really wonderful.
"It's definitely a historic moment and so exciting.
"I think it really speaks to what Edmontonians have been wanting to see for a while and some really strong candidates stepped up and we've made history."
GOOD RIDDANCE TO THE LAZIEST CITY COUNCILLOR EVER
Video: Veteran Edmonton city councillor Tony Caterina not reelected, ousted by Anne Stevenson
"I think it will change how things are done in council," said councillor-elect Wright, "bring a different perspective."
Video: Which Edmonton city councillors kept and lost their seats in the municipal election
Outgoing councillor Michael Walters congratulated everyone who has worked hard behind the scenes to get more diverse voices on council. He also praised Esslinger for her work on council, at times, being the "sole voice in the wilderness" as the only woman on city council two terms ago.
ANOTHER GOOD RIDDANCE
Read more: Edmonton election 2021: Incumbent Bev Esslinger loses seat in Anirniq
"That's a big deal to have that kind of diversity on council," Walters said.
"We hoped, we dreamed, for something like this," said Katherine O'Neill with ParityYEG, a group that supports women and non-binary individuals in obtaining leadership positions in the community.
Read more: Unique project honours 100 years since first woman elected to Edmonton city council
"2021 is actually the 100th anniversary of the very first woman to be elected to Edmonton city council. Her name is Izena Ross.
"To achieve something this historic tonight... is beyond expectations," O'Neill said.
"It helps with the diversity of thought, diversity of perspective. I think it's set our council up for success."
Read more: Will Edmonton see more women on council come October?
Before the Oct. 18 election, there were two women on council.
Video: Edmonton mayoral candidate Kim Krushell concedes race
A total of 24 women put their name forward for councillor in the 12 wards, and three stepped up to campaign for the mayor’s seat.
Voters in every ward, with the exception of Nakota Isga in the west end, had the option of choosing a female candidate.
Video: Unique project honours 100 years since first woman elected to Edmonton City Council
Esslinger said Sept. 6 there’s a number of reasons why more women haven't historically put their names forward.
“One is fundraising. Often they’re really good about raising money for everyone else, but not asking for themselves. And I think the other one is just the social context we live in."
“Some women, they also have to balance on top of that family life. What if you have kids?” said ParityYEG's vice-chair of governance Cindy Caturao.
Read more: Navigating Edmonton city council as a parent
Councillor-elect Stevenson is a mother and city planner.
She said when she was contemplating a run for council, she was surprised by some of the things she heard.
“I did have the question come up a number of times, you know, ‘Why would you run when there’s already another woman running?’ And it really struck me that we’re still trapped in this idea that women are not part of public life,” she said.
“The biggest impact when you’re a woman running for any leadership spot is online harassment,” Caturao explained.
“The utter garbage that women and non-binary individuals experience being a political candidate online.”
Video: New battle of Alberta aims to elect more women to city hall
Edmonton Elections said more than 229,000 Edmontonians voted in the 2021 election, including ballots cast on Oct. 18 and during the advance vote period.
Official results will be confirmed by noon on Oct. 22.
-- With files from Sarah Ryan, Global News
Amarjeet Sohi elected Edmonton's 36th mayor, 4 incumbent councillors defeated
CTV EDMONTON -
Amarjeet Sohi will be Edmonton's 36th mayor as four incumbent councillors went down to defeat in the city's municipal election Monday night.
The CTV News decision desk projected Sohi to be the winner just after 9 p.m.
Sohi won with 45 per cent of votes and was followed by former councillors Mike Nickel (25 per cent), Kim Krushell (17 per cent) and Michael Oshry (six per cent).
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"I know that these last few years have been tough," said Sohi. "I'm honoured with the privilege to lead us towards a new chapter with better days ahead."
"Let's get to work. Let's build a city that's a place of opportunity for all."
His platform focussed on addressing homelessness, addictions and mental health as well as dealing with the realities of climate change.
He told CTV News he planned to reach out to other members of city council in the coming days.
"We will get to work right away," he said. "We have very serious challenges."
Sohi is the city's first person of colour to be elected as mayor.
He was elected as councillor in 2007 and re-elected in 2010 and 2013. He left local politics to run as a federal Liberal, winning in 2015 and serving as a federal cabinet minister before being defeated in 2019.
"This city is going to change," Nickel told supporters in conceding defeat.
"But there will always be a tomorrow and even if I am not there, tomorrow will always be yours."
MIXED NIGHT FOR INCUMBENTS
Incumbent councillors had a mixed election night with four councillors being returned to office but also an equal number coming up short.
Incumbents Aaron Paquette in Dene, Andrew Knack in Nakota Isga, Tim Cartmell in pihêsiwin and Sarah Hamilton in sipiwiyiniwak were all re-elected Monday night.
But, incumbent Tony Caterina lost his council seat to Anne Stevenson in O-day'min, and finished in fifth place.
Jon Dziadyk was upset by Karen Principe in tastawiyiniwak, who won with 38.9 per cent of the vote.
In Sspomitapi, Moe Banga finished in third place behind new councillor-elect Jo-Anne Wright.
And, two-term councillor Bev Esslinger lost to Erin Rutherford by 266 votes in Anirniq.
Before Monday night, 62 out of 65 incumbents, or about 95 per cent, had been re-elected as mayor or councillor in Edmonton over the last seven elections going back to 1998.
The closest race of the night was in the open ward of Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi where Jennifer Rice held a 39-vote lead over Rhiannon Hoyle at the end of Monday night.
Edmonton Elections said Monday that there a number of outstanding special ballots still to be counted.
Ashley Salvador in Métis, Michael Janz in papastew and Keren Tang in Karhiio round out the newcomers to council.
Women will represent two-thirds of city councillors, the most in Edmonton's history.
Voter turnout was 37.5 per cent with 235,826 ballots cast from 629,066 eligible voters. The 2017 municipal election drew a 31.5 per cent turnout.
Voters also cast ballots on the federal equalization program and daylight savings time as well as for senate nominees.
Final results for those ballots will come on the morning of Oct. 26 though some cities, including Calgary but not Edmonton, released results Monday night.
New mayors elected in historic victories in Calgary and EdmontonCTV EDMONTON -
Amarjeet Sohi will be Edmonton's 36th mayor as four incumbent councillors went down to defeat in the city's municipal election Monday night.
The CTV News decision desk projected Sohi to be the winner just after 9 p.m.
Sohi won with 45 per cent of votes and was followed by former councillors Mike Nickel (25 per cent), Kim Krushell (17 per cent) and Michael Oshry (six per cent).
RELATED STORIES
Election roundup: New mayors in Red Deer, Parkland County, Morinville
"I know that these last few years have been tough," said Sohi. "I'm honoured with the privilege to lead us towards a new chapter with better days ahead."
"Let's get to work. Let's build a city that's a place of opportunity for all."
His platform focussed on addressing homelessness, addictions and mental health as well as dealing with the realities of climate change.
He told CTV News he planned to reach out to other members of city council in the coming days.
"We will get to work right away," he said. "We have very serious challenges."
Sohi is the city's first person of colour to be elected as mayor.
He was elected as councillor in 2007 and re-elected in 2010 and 2013. He left local politics to run as a federal Liberal, winning in 2015 and serving as a federal cabinet minister before being defeated in 2019.
"This city is going to change," Nickel told supporters in conceding defeat.
"But there will always be a tomorrow and even if I am not there, tomorrow will always be yours."
MIXED NIGHT FOR INCUMBENTS
Incumbent councillors had a mixed election night with four councillors being returned to office but also an equal number coming up short.
Incumbents Aaron Paquette in Dene, Andrew Knack in Nakota Isga, Tim Cartmell in pihêsiwin and Sarah Hamilton in sipiwiyiniwak were all re-elected Monday night.
But, incumbent Tony Caterina lost his council seat to Anne Stevenson in O-day'min, and finished in fifth place.
Jon Dziadyk was upset by Karen Principe in tastawiyiniwak, who won with 38.9 per cent of the vote.
In Sspomitapi, Moe Banga finished in third place behind new councillor-elect Jo-Anne Wright.
And, two-term councillor Bev Esslinger lost to Erin Rutherford by 266 votes in Anirniq.
Before Monday night, 62 out of 65 incumbents, or about 95 per cent, had been re-elected as mayor or councillor in Edmonton over the last seven elections going back to 1998.
The closest race of the night was in the open ward of Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi where Jennifer Rice held a 39-vote lead over Rhiannon Hoyle at the end of Monday night.
Edmonton Elections said Monday that there a number of outstanding special ballots still to be counted.
Ashley Salvador in Métis, Michael Janz in papastew and Keren Tang in Karhiio round out the newcomers to council.
Women will represent two-thirds of city councillors, the most in Edmonton's history.
Voter turnout was 37.5 per cent with 235,826 ballots cast from 629,066 eligible voters. The 2017 municipal election drew a 31.5 per cent turnout.
Voters also cast ballots on the federal equalization program and daylight savings time as well as for senate nominees.
Final results for those ballots will come on the morning of Oct. 26 though some cities, including Calgary but not Edmonton, released results Monday night.
Oct 19, 2021
CBC News
Jyoti Gondek is to become Calgary's first female mayor and Edmonton voters have elected Amarjeet Sohi, the city's first mayor of South Asian origin.
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