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2 Yellowknife city councillors want to be city's next mayor

2 Yellowknife city councillors want to be city's next mayor

CBC05-05-2025
Two Yellowknife city councillors have stepped forward to become Yellowknife's next mayor, hoping to fill the seat Rebecca Alty left vacant when she was elected to be the N.W.T.'s Member of Parliament.
Garrett Cochrane and Stacie Arden-Smith both announced on social media that they want the job, though council hasn't yet said how it will replace Alty.
Arden-Smith has been on Yellowknife city council since 2018. She said she is running to increase representation of Indigenous women in leadership roles.
"I have a passion for my community, I want to be of service and I think it's important to make sure that all voices are being heard," she said in an interview with CBC.
Cochrane has been on city council since 2022 and said he wants to serve as mayor because of his love of the city.
"This community is my passion," he told CBC.
"As mayor, I will continue to collaborate with my colleagues and work with the administration in addressing the defining issues of our city."
City council has not yet decided how Alty's replacement will be chosen.
The territory's Local Authorities Elections Act offers city council three potential courses of action: appoint a new mayor from within its ranks, hold a byelection, or leave the seat empty until the next municipal election.
CBC has previously asked Yellowknife city councillors if they would be interested in taking on the mayor's role.
Councillors Warburton, Cat McGurk, Tom McLennan and Steve Payne said they would not. Councillor Hendriksen declined to say yes or no, and Councillor Ryan Fequet did not respond.
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Local climate activism leads to ‘remarkable' gains, report shows
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Local climate activism leads to ‘remarkable' gains, report shows

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