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Edmonton’s ‘historic’ new city council officially sworn in

Edmonton City Council sworn in at a ceremony at city hall Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. Vinesh Pratap, Global News

The 13 members of the new Edmonton City Council were officially sworn in Tuesday at city hall.

A city news release called the event “historic and memorable.”

READ MORE: Ward 4 votes in Edmonton’s first Metis councillor

On election day, Edmontonians voted in four new councillors (Jon Dziadyk in Ward 3, Aaron Paquette in Ward 4, Sarah Hamilton in Ward 5 and Tim Cartmell in Ward 9) to join incumbents Andrew Knack (Ward 1), Bev Esslinger (Ward 2), Scott McKeen (Ward 6), Tony Caterina (Ward 7), Ben Henderson (Ward 8), Michael Walters (Ward 10), Mike Nickel (Ward 11) and Mohinder Banga (Ward 12).

Mayor Don Iveson was also re-elected.

READ MORE: Don Iveson crushes competition to be re-elected mayor in Edmonton election

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Councillor Paquette is Edmonton’s first-ever Metis councillor. The city also now has double the number of women it previously had on council — going from one to two — but Iveson recognized there was still a lot of progress to be made.

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“I issue this challenge to my colleagues on city council: let’s put family-friendliness at the centre of our ambition and let’s build a city that matches our ambition,” Iveson said. “Let’s uplift all people here so they can live their best possible lives in Edmonton.”

Tuesday’s ceremony began with a procession of the councillors and included a performance of O Canada by Asani, Wajjo African drummers and Mattierin Irish dancers.

READ MORE: Iveson embraces diversity, slams division in speech day after Edmonton election 

The oaths of office were administered by the Hon. Don Manderscheid, a judge with the Court of Queen’s Bench.

After the ceremony, mayor and councillors had their first meeting in council chambers.

The new council will serve a four-year term with the next municipal election scheduled for October 2021.

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