Some notable moments from Mayor Bell’s time in office

Notable moments from Kenny Bell’s time on Iqaluit city council

Oct. 15, 2012: Kenny Bell elected as a councillor for City of Iqaluit.

Sept. 16, 2013: Kenny Bell among several councillors who complain of a “disconnect” between city administration and residents. “If I as a councillor can’t get information from the city, I can only imagine that citizens that have concerns can’t get information either,” he says.

June 10, 2015: City Coun. Bell tells council he was absent four times in the past month from various meetings mainly due to frustration over information provided by government departments. “I found myself in a position where I’d rather dig my eyes out with my bare fingers than come to this room,” he says, adding he’s not about to quit.

Oct. 15, 2015: In his final council meeting after deciding against seeking re-election, Coun. Bell criticizes then-mayor Mary Wilman for a lack of transparency and openness.

Oct. 28, 2019: Bell elected mayor of Iqaluit, with 1,049 votes compared to 688 for his opponent Noah Papatsie. Immediately afterward, Bell tells Nunatsiaq News: “It’s still surreal. I can’t explain it right now.” Then, focusing on the future, he adds: “I talked a lot of game, I talked a lot of smack. Now I have to prove it, and I plan on doing that.”

Feb. 14, 2020: Mayor Kenny Bell critical of frequent absences by some councillors, calling it “kind of embarrassing” that council needs to discuss what is and isn’t an acceptable excuse.

March 13, 2020: City of Iqaluit forms COVID-19 task force.

June 2, 2020: Mayor Bell said he supports Nunavut RCMP wearing body cameras, saying “it’s about the safety of everyone involved.” Also that week, Bell creates an affordable-housing task force to address the city’s housing shortage, calling the system “completely broken.”

Nov. 5, 2020: In an interview with Nunatsiaq News one year after being elected mayor, Bell admitted “I’m a polarizing individual” but hoped citizens were satisfied with his work. He said the city’s ability to provide water remained a priority (around the time he was elected, he said the city was dealing with a “water crisis” due to supply and infrastructure issues). He said as mayor he was working to keep the rest of council fully informed on issues, and admitted he didn’t give his predecessor, Madeleine Redfern, enough credit for the job she did. “It’s easier to judge than actually do,” Bell said.

May 3, 2021: The City of Iqaluit declares a state of emergency in response to a COVID-19 outbreak with 81 active cases, nearly twice the amount reported the week previous.

June 30, 2021: Bell calls again for the city to be able to levy property taxes on local churches.

Oct. 12, 2021: City of Iqaluit declares emergency after tests show some type of petroleum had contaminated the city’s water supply. The emergency would last two months, and see residents rely on bottled water that was flown in and the Canadian Armed Forces set up a water purification centre in the city.

April 22, 2022: Bell posts on Facebook that he was accosted by a stranger outside a grocery store, and that the man said he wanted to fight. Bell writes, “I popped him in the jaw with a left, he did the stanky leg and then ran away. I went and did my shopping, end of story.”

April 29, 2022: Deputy Mayor Solomon Awa says Bell did not breach council’s code of conduct in his “scuffle” outside the store.

July 29, 2022: Pope Francis visits Iqaluit. Mayor Bell is not in attendance.

Oct. 13, 2022: Sam Tilley is named as a replacement city councillor. During this term of council, four of the eight members elected in 2019 resigned.

Oct. 18, 2022: Kenny Bell announces resignation as Iqaluit mayor.