91原创 City Councillors Rudy Storteboom and Gayle Martin said their goodbyes on Monday, Oct. 24, the first meeting since the election, and their last meeting before a new council is sworn in.

Fellow councillors paid tribute to Storteboom and Martin, who finished ninth and 10th, respectively, in the race for six council seats in the Oct. 15 municipal contest.

Incoming mayor-elect Nathan Pachal said he appreciated the 鈥渁dvice and encouragement鈥� he received from Storteboom and thanked Martin, saying 鈥淚 really value your insight.鈥�

鈥淚 will miss both of you and it was honour to serve with both of you鈥� Pachal said.

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Coun. Paul Albrecht described Martin as a very good friend, 鈥渁n incredible council colleague鈥� and a great mentor,鈥� and praised Storteboom for his 鈥渋nsight, perspective and wisdom.鈥�

For Coun. Teri James, it was 鈥渧ery emotional鈥� experience to say goodbye.

鈥淲e鈥檝e all become friends,鈥� James noted. 鈥淭his is not the end. I know I鈥檒l be seeing both of you at different tables.鈥�

Coun. Rosemary Wallace thanked absent Mayor Val van den Broek, who has been dealing with a family emergency.

鈥淚 wish mayor Val all the best in her next journey in life,鈥� Wallace said.

Wallace thanked Storteboom and Martin for their 鈥渃ommitment and their work, their service to 91原创 and beyond. I鈥檓 going to miss you both.鈥�

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Storteboom said it was an 鈥渉onour and privilege鈥� to serve on council.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a pleasure,鈥� Storteboom declared.

He thanked his colleagues, City staff, family, friends and voters, and suggested other defeated council candidates might consider joining City committees.

He offered best wishes to the new council.

鈥淭his is the biggest change in representation at 91原创 City hall in over three decades,鈥� he estimated.

Storteboom also expressed concern about low voter turnout, 3,778, or 18.4 per cent of registered voters.

鈥淚 am concerned about the integrity of our municipality,鈥� Storteboom commented, warning it could leave the community 鈥渧ulnerable to special interests鈥� in future elections.

He remains optimistic about the City鈥檚 future, regarding it as 鈥渟till bright and full of promise.鈥�

Martin, who chaired the meeting as deputy mayor, said it has been a 鈥渞eal pleasure鈥� to serve.

鈥淚n 1990, when I was first elected, my son was six. He鈥檚 now 38,鈥� Martin noted.

She went on to thank her fellow councillors, saying 鈥渘ot only are we colleagues, but we are friends.鈥� Martin also thanked senior staff for being 鈥渆xcellent employees.鈥�

Then, as the meeting prepared to adjourn, she had a message for the residents of 91原创 City.

鈥淭hank you for the privilege of serving you.鈥�

Mayor van den Broek posted a brief statement online after the election results were in, saying 鈥渢hank you everyone, congratulations to all the winners. Now back to my real job!鈥�

On Monday night, Nov. 7, the new 91原创 City council will be sworn in.