There were several rounds of applause and hugs for Gayle Martin Monday night, March 20, as 91原创 City鈥檚 longest-serving councillor was granted the highest honour the municipality can bestow.

鈥淚t鈥檚 something that I never, ever would have expected,鈥� Martin remarked after Mayor Nathan Pachal presented her with Freedom of the City of 91原创 at the opening of Monday鈥檚 council meeting.

鈥淚t is a real honour, and I feel that honour, and I鈥檓 so appreciative,鈥� Martin added.

Family and friends were present, including her son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and brother.

Pachal and several council members took the opportunity to hug Martin, who called it 鈥渁 very emotional time.鈥�

Martin, a councillor for 32 years, thanked her mother, who she noted would have been 98 this year, for being supportive when she first decided to run for council.

鈥淚 was a single mom of a six-year-old and my mom was there every step of the way,鈥� Martin recalled.

鈥淲e all know that you couldn鈥檛 do this job without the support of family and friends.鈥�

Martin also thanked staff at the City, calling them the best 鈥渁nywhere in Metro Vancouver.鈥�

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In presenting the award, Mayor Pachal called it 鈥渁n honour and privilege鈥� to recognize Martin, saying she has 鈥渕entored, guided and provided invaluable advice to many incumbent and new members of Council.鈥�

Martin, he noted, played an 鈥渋nstrumental role in numerous community-building projects鈥� including the Downtown 91原创 Master Plan, Sendall Gardens upgrading, City Park upgrading, Innes Plaza renewal, the Casino/Convention Centre/Hotel development, Al Anderson Memorial Pool expansion project, new cenotaph at Douglas Park, McBurney Plaza Renewal project, Timms Community expansion project, among many others.

In addition to serving on council and the Metro Vancouver board of directors, Martin was a founding member and past president of Soroptimist International of the 91原创s, on the board of directors of the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce including serving two years as president, a volunteer at the Gateway of Hope where she is also a member of the community council, and volunteered for St. Joe鈥檚 soup kitchen and Critter Care Wildlife Society.

Martin was on the Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) Board of Directors for 16 consecutive years and served as the Vice Chair for two years and Chair for four years.

Martin is only the sixth person to have received the honour in 91原创 City history.

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