Canada's Newest Capital Mayor

Municipal Affairs
6 days ago
2 min read

Welcome to Municipal Affairs

This past week, over 2,000 municipal leaders from across the country gathered right here in Ottawa for the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities Tradeshow and Convention. It was a powerful reminder of how vital local leadership is to the strength and resilience of our communities.

From coast to coast to coast, mayors, councillors, and municipal officials convened to address the urgent and complex issues shaping life in every corner of Canada.

The agenda was nothing short of ambitious — with passionate calls for bail reform, urgent pleas for stable and predictable federal funding, and difficult but necessary conversations around mental health, addiction, and the growing threat of misinformation in our digital age. The issues may be national, but the impacts are deeply local — and it was clear that the leaders in the room were ready to tackle them head-on.

But for one attendee, this year’s convention came with a particularly personal milestone. Just last month, the Northwest Territories elected Yellowknife’s then-Mayor, Rebecca Alty, to the House of Commons. Her resignation left big shoes to fill — and Yellowknife council turned to a familiar face.

Councillor Ben Hendricksen was selected to step into the role, becoming Canada’s newest capital city mayor. And just weeks into the job, Mayor Hendricksen made his way to Ottawa for his first FCM Convention — not just as a delegate, but as a city leader among his peers.

We sat down with Mayor Hendricksen to hear about his unexpected rise to the mayor’s seat, what the new role means for him and for Yellowknife, and what it was like stepping into the national spotlight at the country’s largest municipal gathering.

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