'I got called the N-word': Candidates talk about racism during Edmonton campaign
CTV
Many Edmontonians celebrated on Monday as voters selected a more diverse council than the city had before, but the campaign trail was still a rough road for racialized people seeking the job.
Many Edmontonians celebrated on Monday as voters selected a more diverse council than the city had before, but the campaign trail was still a rough road for racialized people seeking the job.
Eight of the twelve councillors elected are women and four are people of colour.
Edmonton has never elected a Black councillor or mayor. Thirteen Black people put their name on the ballot this election.
“When I was in Duggan, I got called the N-word about five times within one canvassing shift,” candidate Haruun Ali told CTV News Edmonton.
Ali finished fourth in Ward papastew.
The closest a Black candidate came to earning a seat at city hall was Rhiannon Hoyle, who lost by just 33 votes in Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi.
“To this day, we still have not elected a single Black city councillor. In a time when we needed Black voices, we don’t have one,” Ali said.
