PORT HAWKESBURY: A new political era began earlier this week, as a swearing-in ceremony took place for the latest edition of Port Hawkesbury Town Council, including the town’s first female mayor and its first new mayor in 22 years.
Brenda Chisholm-Beaton, acclaimed as Port Hawkesbury’s mayor following the September 12 nomination deadline for this fall’s municipal elections, was officially sworn-in at a ceremony held at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre’s Shannon Studio on November 1. The same ceremony saw the top four vote-getters in the October 15 municipal election – Trevor Boudreau, Hughie MacDougall, Mark MacIver and newcomer Jeremy White – sworn in as town councillors.
“It’s been kind of a waiting game since I was acclaimed in September, but I’ve been doing all kinds of homework in anticipation of taking the chair,” Chisholm-Beaton told reporters following the ceremony.
“It’s a great feeling – I’m so excited, I’m confident, and I’m looking forward to working with all our councillors around the table.”
Four years removed from becoming only the fourth woman to be elected to Port Hawkesbury Town Council, the new mayor is hoping to serve as a role model for a new generation of local female leadership.
“I think it’s important that young girls in our town and in our community can envision themselves in these roles, whether it’s in the municipal, provincial or federal governments,” Chisholm-Beaton enthused.
“It’s 2016, and we need something new, so it’s nice to have [my children] here, especially my daughter Alexis – she’s pretty excited.”
For more on Port Hawkesbury’s new and outgoing council, see the November 9 edition of The Reporter.
