(R-L) Councillor Ian Thorpe, Mayor Leonard Krog, andd councillors Ben Geselbracht, Erin Hemmens, and Janice Perrino in pink.(Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewwsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

new beginnings

VIDEO: New Nanaimo council sworn-in during official ceremony

Nov 8, 2022 | 5:55 AM

NANAIMO — The newly formed Nanaimo city council have officially started their new term.

Members were officially sworn in during their Nov. 7. inaugural meeting, which was largely ceremonial. The results of the Oct. 15, 2022, general local election saw Leonard Krog comfortably re-elected, winning with 12,390 votes.

Krog said he’s excited to work with the newly formed council.

“I’ve met with them individually, all of the fresh ones. The old ones of course were kind of old hands, just gotta settle the three new members into the team. I will miss, obviously, Councillors (Jim) Turley and (Zeni) Maartman and (Don) Bonner, that’s inevitable, but that’s politics. You win some, you lose some.”

Five incumbents joined Krog as Sheryl Armstrong, Ian Thorpe, Ben Geselbracht, Tyler Brown and Erin Hemmens were all returned to Council.

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Paul Manly, Janice Perrino and Hilary Eastmure are new to the council table.

Krog said he’s looking forward to hearing some fresh perspectives from the new members of council.

“They will bring different perspectives to Council which is healthy. I’m expecting we’ll have some vigorous debates. Obviously, we have some challenges, but there are some good news stories this year. The hotel (Courtyard by Marriott hotel) is coming to fruition finally, we will see completion in the spring, or late winter properly speaking.”

Before any official work can take place, the Mayor and members of council, new and old, are “going back to school”, and will get a crash course on the finer points of how municipal politics work.

Members will hear from various experts to ensure they’re following proper procedure conducting City business.

“What is the jurisdiction, how do you pick motions, how do you deal with council issues? That’s a very healthy thing, because quite candidly, let’s face it, just because you get elected to public office doesn’t mean you know how to do the job.”

(L-R) Counillors Paul Manly, Hilary Eastmure, Tyler Bron, Ian Thorpe, Mayor Leonard Krog, councillor Erin Hemmens, Ben Geselbracht, Janice Perrino, and Sheryl Armstrong. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

He also spoke about the soon-to-be B.C. Premier David Eby, and what he hopes will be their focus once he’s sworn in.

“I’m excited about the prospect of a new Premier coming in, perhaps starting to really emphasize the desperate crisis we have at our streets.”

The inaugural ceremony took place inside the Mt. Benson Ballroom at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre and began with the singing of O Canada, performed by Timothy Von Boetticher.

A blessing was also given by Snuneymuxw First Nation Elder Lolly Good, and a poem was read by poet laureate Kamal Parmer.

Then the 2022-2026 City Council was officially sworn in by the Honourable Judge Sheila Archer.

A number of board appointments were also made during the meeting, including Erin Hemmens being named as the trustee of the Vancouver Island Regional Library Board, while newcomer Hilary Eastmure was appointed as the alternate.

The City also appointed the top seven vote getters from the election to serve as directors on the Regional District of Nanaimo board. Eastmure, who placed 8th, will serve as an alternate.

A total of 18,664 ballots were cast in the 2022 municipal election, with just under 25 per cent of voters coming to the polls.

Council members in Oceanside were also sworn in at separate ceremonies Monday.

Parksville Mayor Doug O’Brien officially took over from Ed Mayne at the helm of a seven member Council. Mayne has said his priorities revolve around transparency and infrastructure development.

New Town of Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek returns to the top elected job and leads a five member team.

Westbroek also takes on a portfolio which includes First Nations relationships, healthcare and Island Coastal Economic Trust.

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