Jyoti Gondek has inked her name in history books following her declaration as Calgary’s next mayor, making her the first female to be elected to the office.
In a victory speech, she said “My heart is full at the thought of how much love and support I have received, not only from the day I announced, but all the way up to today”.
The history maker thanked her 1,200 volunteers, as well as her family.
She said “Please know all of your sacrifices did not go unnoticed, thank you for taking this journey with me, for caring about me and believing in me”.
“This election is also about my dad, who left us far too early. It was actually his unfinished community service that I picked up in 2003 that has brought me to this point in my life.”
It would be recalled that before running for mayor, she served one term as the Ward 3 councilor. Records also have it that prior to her time on city council, Gondek volunteered with the Northern Hills Community Association and served as a citizen member on several municipal committees.
The first female mayor holds a PhD in urban sociology and, before entering politics, worked at the Westman Centre for Real Estate Studies at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business.
In a statement, the female mayor averred that she looks forward to working with the newly elected council and other levels of government.
She said “Now we turn to that focus on the mission of service, to build a stronger city”
“I’m very excited about this prospect of creating a new team, one that prioritizes the well-being of Calgarians, through ensuring that we understand our collective strength. Your new council will pull together around a common vision that makes us more resilient as a city. We will set the bar high to deliver on your expectation and we will remain accountable to all of you.”
