Mariam Hamou picked as new Ward 6 councillor by city committee in narrow vote
CBC
Mariam Hamou was picked as the new Ward 6 councillor by London's Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee on Monday in a narrow vote.
She won against Nancy Branscombe in a run-off vote eight to six, following a split seven to seven vote in the previous round.
Had Hamou tied with Branscombe in the run-off vote, the decision would be made "by lot," where both candidates' names would've been placed in a jar and one would've been picked. That would've be the winner.
"It was an intense vote and I was really hoping that it wouldn't go to a picking out of the hat because we might have made international news with that," Hamou told CBC News following the win. "So, I'm really happy that things turned out the way they did in terms of a fair vote."
In order to avoid drawing a name, Coun. Michael van Holst announced in the meeting that he was going to change his vote from Branscombe to Hamou.
"So, I think as my preference is not that a selection be drawn by lot," he said, "I would change my vote believing that both these candidates, along with many others, would do an excellent job."
20 hopefuls were vying to fill the seat, which has been left empty to fill following the departure of former city councillor, Phil Squire.
Squire made the move to Ontario's Consent and Capacity Board last month, subsequently and suddenly leaving his post with the city.
According to Hamou's application for the job, she'd lived in the ward for more than 30 years, and among a wealth of experience, was the chair for the London Public Library board of directors and worked in the House of Commons.
The decision will be brought to council Tuesday afternoon.
Ward 11 Coun. Stephen Turner said yesterday that he had "concerns and apprehensions about the process."
"One of the biggest ones is the fact that this doesn't represent, necessarily, the interests of the residents and constituents of the ward," Turner said. "The really only true way to do that is through a by-election and actually going to the people."
He would like to see an appropriate, transparent and consistent process in the event that they're faced with the same decision in the future.
London Mayor Ed Holder agreed that a consistent process is desired for the future.
After walking a few laps around the shop, Maria Castagna picks up a glass ornament in the form of a pink, sparkly ice cream cone and smiles widely.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham says he has much unfinished work from his first term in office, as he prepares to make his pitch to voters ahead of the 2026 election.
Moving to Canada from Singapore meant losing close social connections for Iris Akbar, but Akbar says the gift was in finding an affirming space with friends that became like family.
Women and children staying at Regina Transition House now have access to Santa’s workshop — a safe space where mothers can choose Christmas gifts for their children.
A man from Powell River, B.C., is thankful to be alive after a stranger helped him while he was choking at a restaurant during a visit to Whistler.
When it comes to Hamilton readers' favourite library books of 2025, romance and mysteries are in close competition.
From the Detroit Lions losing to Apple iPhones that spontaneously update, Windsorites had things that bugged them this year.
Calgary emergency rooms are “in a state of critical overcapacity” ahead of the anticipated peak of flu season — and to cope with the surge and wait-room crowding, officials are urging doctors to speed up their decisions on whether to admit patients, according to a memo obtained by CBC News.
Northern Ontario's highway system needs improvements in order to make travel safer, a highway safety advocate said.
Hundreds of thousands of used tires are piling up across Ontario as some companies responsible for tire recycling have stopped processing tires amid reduced provincial recycling regulations for tire producers, industry experts say.
People in Guelph facing homelessness will soon have a new place to go during the day.
Islanders are reminded to plan their rides ahead of holiday festivities if they plan on drinking alcohol or using cannabis.
Even before Gwen Healey Akearok began her new role as Nunavut’s Minister of Family Services, she was tuning into the Office of the Auditor General’s (OAG) hearings on the state of the Family Services department.