Winnipeg mayor, council to be sworn in after aboriginal elder blessing – CBC
Nov 04, 2014
Winnipeg’s new mayor, along with seven rookie councillors and eight returning councillors will be officially sworn-in Tuesday evening.
The ceremony will see a break with tradition for city hall and a new acknowledgement of the city’s aboriginal heritage when Brian Bowman and 15 councillors meet with and receive a blessing from an aboriginal elder.
The blessing will take place behind closed doors.
Bowman said he wanted to start off the new council with something positive and a nod to history.
There is another thing he wanted to immediately change as well, to set a new tone at city hall, but won’t get the chance.
He wanted to start his new mandate by allowing city council to choose the EPC members, but the city clerk’s office has advised him rule changes are needed for that to happen — rules that only the Manitoba government can change.
