There was probably no place buzzing more about Sunday’s municipal elections than the St-Viateur Bagel shop on Monkland Avenue.
Regulars would amble in for a bite before 7 a.m. over coffee and bagels encrusted with sesame or poppy seeds to chat about the borough’s mayor-elect, Sue Montgomery.
“Everything was a surprise,” said Bram Besner. “The whole thing.”
Montgomery rode a massive electoral upheaval to beat out Russell Copeman, who switched parties to outgoing Mayor Denis Coderre’s team in 2016 only to lose along with Coderre Sunday night.
Montgomery admits she has her work cut out for her.
She’s especially concerned about the state of affordable housing in Cote-des-Neiges.
But all over the borough, she says she’s taking aim at public transit and the quality of the roads.
One way to do that is to start using expanded “accordion” buses — those two-car buses that have a flexible elbow in the middle, Montgomery said.
Many commuters have been calling for them along the 51 and 105 bus lines. But for them to be used, the Elmhurst Bus Terminus must be expanded first.
Montgomery told Global News she has consulted officials and believes that it’s feasible to expand the terminus.
The swearing-in ceremony for those who won seats on city and borough councils as well as the new mayors, is scheduled for Nov. 16 at Marché Bonsecours in Old Montreal.