Mayor Janice Morrison paid tribute to politicians who came before her in her inaugural address as the new council was sworn in at the Prestige Resort in Nelson.
“As this council looks forward to the next four years,” Morrison said Tuesday evening, “I believe it is important to look back on the legacy of past commitment of passionate community members and leaders.”
Morrison acknowledged the last council and paid special acknowledgement to the past mayors and council members as she works with staff and the new council to forge a new direction for Nelson.
“I thought for an inaugural meeting it would be fitting to invite past mayors to thank them for their leadership,” says Morrison. “Although Bill Ramsden, Gary Exner and Gerald Rotering sent their regrets Dave Elliott, John Dooley and Deb Kozak (Nelson’s first female mayor) have all joined us here this evening.”
Morrison says the three together represent the past two decades of city council through all levels of municipal government, not just as mayor.
“These three illustrate the past 20 years of city council,” she says. “During their time they served first as councillors, then as mayors. They were all passionate community volunteers and activists, and they continue to be engaged in the community.”
Morrison also addressed the service of past council members who served the city.
“It is also a privilege to see past councillors in attendance,” she said. “Marg Stacey, Cal Renwick, Nicole Charlwood and Brittny Anderson are all here as well.”
Morrison said she knows there will be challenges for this new council going forward in the community.
“This is a new council, a blank page, a new chapter,” she says. “There will no doubt be challenges and struggles going forward, and in another four years we will become another chapter in the legacy of Nelson.”
Morrison served as a councillor from 1999-2002 and 2014 until this year, when she unseated incumbent mayor John Dooley.
