It was standing room only at Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce’s first council meeting under new borough mayor Sue Montgomery.

“I’m very touched, humbled and privileged to be sitting here today,” Montgomery said. “I give you my word, I will do my best to serve the community of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. My door will always be open.”

This is the first time a woman has been elected mayor of CDN-NDG, and the first time more than one woman sits on council. But the city’s most ethnically diverse borough also has no visible minorities represented in its government.

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Nevertheless, Montgomery seemed eager about her burgeoning term.

“It’s nice to see so many people engaged and I feel like there’s a lot of enthusiasm about the next four years,” she told CBC News.
Housing, business, public transport among priorities

Montgomery used her opening statement to go over her goals and wishes for the borough in her mandate.

She spoke of dealing with housing issues and negligent landlords, revitalizing the borough’s main commercial arteries like Monkland Avenue and Côte-des-Neiges Road, and expanding access to public transit.

Montgomery also promised to hold monthly “coffee meetings” on top of the council meetings, as a more informal and less intimidating way to speak with her and bring up concerns or issues.

Lionel Perez, the leader of the official opposition and a borough councillor in Côte-des-Neiges, said Montgomery has a very steep learning curve ahead of her. However, he said that he will always collaborate with her.

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Montgomery agreed that teamwork is needed.

“I think we’re all on the same page,” she said of the borough council members. “We want to work to make the borough better.”