YARMOUTH, N.S. — Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood received a standing ovation during her acceptance speech after being elected president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) on Nov. 6 at the Westin Halifax Hotel.
The federation represents the provincial interests of all 50 municipalities in the province and the 379 mayors, wardens and councillors who govern them.
Mood credited outgoing president Waye Mason, a Halifax councillor, for being the strong driving force behind several initiatives at NSFM and she plans on continuing the forward momentum.
“Working with the Department of Municipal Affairs and certainly with minister Chuck Porter has been wonderful. He’s wide open to discussions and he understands the importance of sitting at the same table together and implementing those changes,” Mood said.
Mood paid tribute to her grandfather, Fred Emin, for leading by example and encouraging her to get involved in municipal politics.
He was mayor of of Yarmouth for almost a quarter-century and was president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, the precursor to NSFM, in 1971-72.
Some of NSFM’s priorities for 2019/2020 include legislating for a reduction of the property assessment cap, municipal modernization and financing.
When asked about the extra work her new position would entail, Mood said that as NSFM president, the importance of sitting at the table where decisions are made can’t be understated.”
She added that she has the full support of Yarmouth town council.
Mood has been a municipal politician since 2012 and was vice-president of NSFM’s board last year.
Other members of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities board:
Vice-president of NSFM: Emily Lutz, deputy mayor of Kings County
Past president: Waye Mason, a Halifax councillor
Regional caucus chair: Councillor Clarence Prince, CBRM
Rurual caucus chair: Deputy Mayor Geoff Stewart, County of Colchester
Towns caucus chair: Mayor Brenda Chishom-Beaton, Town of Port Hawkesbury
Regional rep: Councillor Russell Walker, HRM
Regional rep: Councillor George MacDonald, CBRM
Rural rep: Warden Jim Smith, Municipality of East Hants
Rural rep: Councillor Patti Durkee, Municipality of Yarmouth
Towns rep: Mayor Jeff Cantwell, Town of Wolfville
Towns rep: Deputy Mayor Lennie White, Town of Westville
Association of Municipal Administrators rep: Alain Muise, CAO, Municipality of Argyle
A bit of history
It’s not the first time women have held the top two spots at NSFM. In the 1990s, there were back-to-back years when the organization had this distinction.
In 1993-94, the president/VP was Moira Ducharme (Halifax Mayor) and Madaline Libbus (Richmond County Warden).
In 1994-95, Madaline Libbus was president and Ann MacLean (New Glasgow Mayor) the VP.
