Three-way race for mayor in Iqaluit
Crowded field of candidates for seats on city council, but DEAs go acclaimed
From left: Solomon Awa, Lili Weemen and Vincent Yvon are the three candidates running to be mayor of Iqaluit. (File photos/supplied)
Leading up to Nunavut’s Oct. 23 municipal elections, Nunatsiaq News is publishing snapshots of races in the territory’s 25 communities.
A Canadian North flight attendant and a former mental health worker are challenging Iqaluit’s mayor in the race to lead Nunavut’s capital city.
Vincent Yvon, Lili Weemen and incumbent Solomon Awa are Iqaluit’s mayoral candidates in the Oct. 23 municipal election.
Yvon was the first to enter the race before Awa and Weemen jumped in on the final day of nominations last month.
All three candidates expressed a desire to work with councillors to address issues including waste management, improving municipal services, and finding a long-term solution to Iqaluit’s water needs.
Yvon moved to Canada from France seven years ago, and a career change to become a flight attendant with Canadian North brought him to Nunavut.
In France, Yvon served on the municipal council in Criel-sur-Mer, a small village in the region of Normandy.
He described Iqaluit’s city hall as “very closed” when residents need issues resolved. He said he promises to host frequent drop-in sessions so residents can address issues directly to the mayor and councillors.
“I think we need to have a change at the city hall,” Yvon said “In Iqaluit, no one communicates with the general public, and I think that’s pretty sad.”
“We cannot fix everything, but just to talk to people, it’s enough to make them feel they are [understood].”
Awa is no stranger to Iqaluit residents from the many roles he has held in the community, such as in recreation, with the hunters and trappers association, Qikiqtani Inuit Association, and most recently as a councillor and then mayor.
Having served as deputy mayor on council, Awa was appointed to the top job last year after Kenny Bell’s sudden resignation.
For this election, Awa originally put his name on the ballot for council, but after receiving encouragement from community members, he said, he entered the mayoral race.
When he became mayor last year, council allowed Awa to serve part-time. With that experience under his belt, he said he’s willing to work full-time, at council’s direction.
“I can speak Inuktitut fluently, I listen to the people…. I have been their voice for the city, and I will still do that,” he said.
“I think I’m being supported by most people in Iqaluit.”
Weemen’s bid for mayor is not her first attempt at winning municipal office.
Now retired, the former mental health worker and civil servant previously ran for Iqaluit’s city council in the 2019 election. Last year, she applied to fill vacancies on council on at least three occasions.
Weeman said her message to voters is that she cares about the community, and she wouldn’t treat being mayor as a “side hustle.”
She also said Iqaluit needs more women in municipal office.
“We need a mayor who will devote her entire time to the city, not work part-time because our previous mayor has another big job so this one is a side hustle,” she said, referring to Awa keeping his job at QIA after becoming mayor.
“Obviously, we have a lot of problems. If everything was running smooth, it’s different. Nothing is running smooth.”
The election for Iqaluit’s municipal council is a 14-person race to fill eight seats.
Six of the candidates are incumbent councillors hoping to win another term: Kim Smith, Deputy Mayor Kyle Sheppard, Samuel Tilley, Simon Nattaq, Swany Amarapala and Romeyn Stevenson.
Challenging the incumbents are Matthew Clark, Gabriel Ross, Methusalah Kunuk, Camilius Egeni, Daniel Legacy, Lewis Falkiner MacKay, Jack Anawak and Harry Flaherty.
Iqaluit, unlike other communities, has two District Education Authorities because Apex has its own. All candidates for both DEAs were acclaimed because fewer than seven candidates entered each race.
The five acclaimed Iqaluit DEA members are Stephen Johnson, Camilius Egeni, Nicole Giles, Robynn Pavia and Jack Anawak.
In Apex, the three acclaimed members are Anne Crawford, Jonathan Wright and Vincent Karetak.
Let’s be real, it is Solomon Awa’s to lose. He’s going to win.
I think Lili Weemen would be the best choice.
Not a great look for Awa that he holds another job, but he had to step in to fix Mayor Dumpsterfire Bell’s mess and it wasn’t planned.
This isn’t a serious three-way race though. Whether or not Awa is 100% invested in the position (putting his name forward shows that he is) he’s the only logical candidate. People will vote for him in droves.
Lili Weeman has a good heart and is passionate about justice but anyone who’s dealt with her knows that she’s creates confusion and sometimes unnecessary frustration for others in every room she walks into. Again, she’s a kind person but NOT mayor material. She barely received any votes when she ran for councilor so I don’t know how she thought she’d win the mayor’s seat. If it’s just for campaign experience then good for her, but she’s attacking Awa like she has a shot.
Vincent Yvon: token unknown guy. Might also be doing it for the experience and he’s well within his right to do so. But anytime someone unknown decides to throw there name in the Mayoral race, or even councilor race, it’s an immediate yellow or red flag for me. It’s like: why? what really motivated you to do this? Is it an attention thing? The one-liner he offered for this article doesn’t inspire much confidence.
Lily is a disaster. She’s muddled and delusional. Everything she is a part of becomes a mess.
I’d take Solomon over her any day. Not doing much is better than causing problems.
A flight attendant, a retiree, and a hunter run for mayor in a small town. At a debate, they’re asked how they’ll improve the town. The flight attendant says, “I’ll upgrade our town to first class!” The retiree says, “I’ll make every day a weekend!” The hunter says, “I’ll take aim at our problems!”
The townspeople found their campaigns to be a hilarious flight of political fancy!
In the upcoming election, it seems we’re all booked on a non-stop flight to Disappointment City with layovers in Lackluster Leadership and Missed Opportunity. Despite the hopeful campaign trails, the real leadership needed to propel our city forward seems to have missed the boarding call. Now, as the electoral plane taxis on the runway of stagnation, we brace for a turbulent term ahead, hoping for a miracle in the skies of governance.
I agree, nothing to see here, it’s too bad someone would step up for the job and do what they say they will do and be transparent. I think there will be a lot of turbulence ahead as well.
Back in 2012, I criticized the City for taking over six months to post council meeting minutes. Since that time there have been real improvements. Live-streamed meetings and prompt information posting are established norm.
While I am very pleased to see that we have come a long way. I believe, that we can do more to further foster a welcoming and inclusive response when Iqalungmiut reach out for information.
Council should support the administration to share more information with residents in the spirit of openness and transparency. Good, democratic governance is based on information being easily available to the public. This can include providing standing direction on the types of information which can be automatically shared to residents. For example information on the structure of the administration (including Job Discriptions and Organizational Charts).
My complete City Council Platform (which includes tunnganarniq improvements) is avaliable at facebook.com/VoteMacKay
The streaming of council meetings is a great concept but it has not worked for me when I have tried to join in. What about space at rltge chambers forcitizens to go listen in?
There are around 15 seats for the public, I have only seen them filled a small handful of times.
Never mind the Mayoral race, what about council.
Kyle Sheppard has been running the cab committee for 4 years. Prices have gone up significantly, and the per passenger per trip fare is still in place. Questions need to start being asked about his ethics, and why a man elected to serve Iqalummiut seems to be focused on serving the cab companies instead.
Iqalummiut need to boot Sheppard from office.
I have to say I agree with what you said though not because of the cab issue. I have been appalled that he has been the de facto or self appointed spokerson for the city (mayor should be or knowledgeable/appropriate staff), I am tired of loud know it alls, etc.
The only time I’ve ever heard of Vincent was through work with his unwanted and harassing texts and pictures! Not sure I want this guy as mayor when he doesn’t understand what NO means.