NEWS

NEWS New West mayor plans to say goodbye to local politics

by Charlie Smith

One of Metro Vancouver’s more environmentally minded mayors is going to say goodbye to electoral politics.

In a New Year’s Day Instagram post, Jonathan Cote said that he won’t seek reelection a er serving as New Westminster’s mayor for two terms. He was rst elected to council in 2005 at the age of 26, serving three terms before defeating incumbent mayor Wayne Wright in 2014.

“It has been an honour to serve this community for the past 16 years and I am incredibly proud of the work we have been able to accomplish,” Cote said in his post.

“From our work on housing policy to our bold steps on climate action, our small city has been a leader in so many ways,” he continued. “ is work would not have been possible without the hard work from City sta , community members and my colleagues on council over the years who have been so dedicated to building a compassionate and forward thinking community.”

Cote’s tenure coincided with a revival of the downtown core, which was initiated when he was on council and Wright was mayor. A waterfront park, the Anvil Centre, the River Market, and developments around the Columbia and New Westminster SkyTrain stations, including a multiplex, helped attract many new residents, including a fair number of young families who felt that they had been priced out of East Vancouver.

It helped that New West, which covers just 15.6 square kilometres, has ve SkyTrain stations.

“Younger people and baby boomers are starting to appreciate the urban environment—and that urban feel is missing from most suburban communities in Metro Vancouver,” Cote told the Straight back in 2012 during an interview in the Heritage Grill restaurant. “ is is actually becoming a value: being able to walk everywhere, being able to take public transit, being able to jump on a SkyTrain to go downtown.”

In more recent years, New West has carved out a reputation as a centre for progressive thinking around housing, climate action, and transportation.

e city has a vibrant LGBT community and lively Pride festival, and it has hosted the annual Recovery Day festivities for those trying to free themselves from addiction to drugs and alcohol. ere’s also a new high school, which came a er many years of wrangling between the school board, the city, and the province.

During Cote’s two terms, the Uptown area has become more vibrant than ever; a ferry service was launched between Queensborough and New Westminster Quay; and the Brewery District has been redeveloped, enlivening the area near Royal Columbian Hospital.

But the city has also faced its share of di culties in recent years, including res at the New Westminster pier and in the building housing the Heritage Grill, which was a centre for arts and culture.

“ e past two years have been challenging for our city but we have been resilient and caring in the face of our struggles,” Cote said in the Instagram post. “It feels like we have lost some momentum but I am con dent that our city has a bright future ahead.

“We are tough, diverse, quirky and most importantly we are a community with a big heart. ese are traits that have served us well in the past and will give us strength in the future.”

Cote has also been an in uential politician at the regional level, chairing the TransLink Mayors’ Council since he was reelected as mayor in 2018. With his master’s degree in urban studies, he’s been a keen supporter of rapid-transit projects to reduce automobile tra c.

Cote is the only mayor in the region during the past 30 years who has twice been photographed for the cover of the Georgia Straight. g

We are tough, diverse, quirky and most importantly…a community with a big heart.

– New West mayor Jonathan Cote Jonathan Cote has been a municipal politician since 2005—now he’s planning his next life. January 6-13 / 2022

8 COVER

An explosion of COVID-19 cases over the holiday period has some parents worried about their kids returning to school. By Charlie Smith Cover photo by Halfpoint/Getty Images Plus

6 HEALTH

The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t going anywhere soon, so if we’re locked down at home, we might as well think about revving up our sex lives. By Rachel Moore

14 MUSIC

Grimes takes a long look in the mirror and then concludes she’s finally had enough of a music industry that’s been broken forever. By Mike Usinger

e Start Here 10 ARTS 18 CLASSIFIED ADS 11 COMEDY 9 FOOD 16 MOVIES 2 NEWS 12 PUSH FESTIVAL 4 REAL ESTATE 16 SAVAGE LOVE 9 WINE

Vancouver’s News and Entertainment Weekly Volume 56 | Number 2812

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@GeorgiaStraight

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