Kitchener’s new city council holds inaugural meeting

The inaugural meeting of Kitchener’s new city council was held this evening, Monday, Nov. 21, inside council chambers at Kitchener City Hall.

The recent election for the 2022-2026 term of council saw Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and seven incumbent councillors re-elected. They are joined by three new councillors. The newly-elected council, the most diverse in the City’s history, is made up of:

• Mayor – Berry Vrbanovic
• Ward 1 – Scott Davey
• Ward 2 – Dave Schnider
• Ward 3 – Jason Deneault
• Ward 4 – Christine Michaud        
• Ward 5 – Ayo Owodunni
• Ward 6 – Paul Singh
• Ward 7 – Bil Ioannidis
• Ward 8 – Margaret Johnston
• Ward 9 – Debbie Chapman
• Ward 10 – Aislinn Clancy

In Mayor Vrbanovic’s inaugural address, he welcomed the new members of council, thanked outgoing councillors and reflected on the city’s accomplishments over the past term of council. He also shared his confidence in Kitchener’s future as it undergoes a period of rapid change.

“As we embark on this new term, together with my Council colleagues and our civic administration, we come together as a community, as citizens and as the local government that represents you, to make history together for a better Kitchener,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “The one thing we all share – regardless of the ward we represent, or the path we’ve taken to pursue this important role in public service – is a passion for our city, and a belief in its people.”

An Indigenous opening was presented by Clarence Cachagee of Crow Shield Lodge, invocations were given by Swami Chaitanya Jyoti Ji Maharaj of the Brahmarishi Mission of Canada and Father Myroslaw Tataryn of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Transfiguration and a reflection was given by Father Toby Collins, Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish. The musical procession and musical interlude were provided by performers from the Beckett School at Laurier, and the national anthem was sung by members of KW Glee. Ahead of the inaugural, Clarence Cachagee performed an Indigenous smudging ceremony with Members of Council in the Rotunda.

In his speech, Mayor Vrbanovic called on the community to focus on the things that unite us as opposed to those that divide us. “That doesn’t mean brushing our differences aside or going back to the way things were. But it does mean looking beyond the horizon, to a shared future, with common interests,” he said. “It means calling on our resilience as individuals and as a community and returning to an era of civility where decency, honesty and integrity are at the forefront of all our interactions with each other.”

The formal agenda was followed by a reception in the City Hall rotunda, with a musical performance by Juneyt Yetkiner.

During the inaugural session, members of the public were appointed to various advisory committees, boards and quasi-judicial committees, and the mayor and councillors were officially appointed to the city’s standing committees. These advisory and standing committees discuss and debate critical issues affecting Kitchener and report their decisions to council for final resolution.

For more information:

Shawn Falcao
Manager, Corporate Communications
shawn.falcao@kitchener.ca