Re-elected Grand Forks mayor Everett Baker pledged to “lead with respect” and “work to build what we still need” as the new city council was sworn in today.
Baker, who was first elected mayor in 2022 after serving as a councllor, called being mayor “the greatest honour of my life.” He said he wants to push for more housing, safer streets, and doctors who stay in the community. He added that he will continue to advocate for the local forest industry.
“I will be a mayor for all Grand Forks, whether you voted for me or not,” he said. “Whether you lived here 80 years or eight months, my door at City Hall is open.”
In addition to Baker, four incumbent councillors were re-elected: Zak Eburne-Stoodley, Neil Krog, David Mark, and Rod Zielinski. They are joined by newcomers Shaun Aquiline and Nicole Best.
Baker was re-appointed as the city’s regional district representative.
Council also opted to stick with daytime meetings. Following some Facebook chatter, there had been some discussion about switching council meetings to evenings in hopes that more people could attend. The last council decided to move the first few meetings of the next council to evenings, but the new council rescinded that decision. Baker said he felt that was best for the city’s governance.
This is the full text of Baker’s speech:
Thank you for placing your trust in me once again. It is the greatest honour of my life to serve as your mayor.
I do not take this chain of office lightly. This chain represents 127 years of mayors before me: farmers, merchants, miners, undertakers, who built this city with their hands. I am only a caretaker of it for the next four years.
I want to thank my team: Deanna, Jackie, Christina Ann and my family: my mom; Deborah the love of my life for 45 years; my children Christine Ann, Aaron and Hannah (Trust me you don’t want to tangle with Hannah) and their families. Thank you for your sacrifice. As anyone who runs for public office your families pay the price. And all those who took time to vote. This victory is shared with each one.
Today, the campaigning ends and the governing begins. An election is loud. Governing must be quiet, steady work. We heard many voices in this election. Some voices called for radical change. Some called for chaos. The majority of you called for something else. You called for stability. You called for respect at the council table. And you called for projects delivered: on time, on budget, for the people.
I will lead with respect. Respect for each other around this council table, even when we disagree. Respect for our staff, who work so hard for this community. And respect for you, the taxpayer, who deserves to know where your dollar goes. We are a small city with a big heart, and we will govern like it: neighbour to neighbour.
I will protect what we have built together. We have finished the largest flood protection project in our history. Our downtown is safe. Our industrial lands are safe. We will protect that investment and we will maintain it, so no family ever has to go through what we went through in 2018.
I will work to build what we still need. We need homes our kids can afford. We need doctors who stay. We need streets that are safe. In the next four years, I will advocate/partner with the provincial and federal governments for affordable senior, worker, rental housing. I will continue to lead the fight to recruit and retain physicians for our clinic and hospital, and I will advocate for our forest industry for the good paying jobs they provide and seek grant funding for our core infrastructure: water, sewer, and roads.
I will be your mayor for all Grand Forks. Whether you voted for me or not, whether you have lived here for 80 years or eight months, my door at City Hall is open. Come and see me.
To my fellow councillors, I congratulate you. The people have chosen you. Now let us work. Let us put aside personalities and politics. Let us ask one question before every vote: Is this good for Grand Forks?
To our city staff, led by our CAO, thank you. You are the backbone of this city. You plow our streets at 4 a.m/, you keep our water clean, you answer the phone when someone is upset. I will have your back.
Citizens of Grand Forks, we live in the best community in British Columbia. Nestled between the Granby and the Kettle, surrounded by mountains, blessed with good people. Our job is to leave it better than we found it.
Thank you. May God bless the City of Grand Forks.
