THUNDER BAY – The winds of change tore through Thunder Bay’s ward races Monday night, toppling a pair of long-serving city councillors from their seats.
In total, four new faces will represent the city’s seven wards, with only Northwood’s Shelby Ch’ng, Red River’s Brian McKinnon and Current River’s Andrew Foulds earning re-election.
In the biggest surprise of election night, law student Cody Fraser eked out a 97-vote victory over long-time incumbent Linda Rydholm, who had held the seat since 2003.
In Westfort, veteran Coun. Joe Virdiramo slid to third place in the three-candidate race, giving way to newcomer Kristen Oliver, who heads the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.
Brian Hamilton edged out Ashley Nurmela to capture the vacated McKellar ward position, while Boys and Girls Club of Thunder Bay executive director Albert Aiello coasted to a comfortable win in McIntyre over teacher Wesley Ramage.
Fraser, just 26, said it’s a surreal feeling knowing he’ll represent Neebing for at least the next four years on council.
“At the very beginning of my campaign, I was focusing on getting the youth voice to city council and my campaign slogan was ‘It’s time for a new generation of community leaders in Thunder Bay,’ and that’s basically been the sole reason for my running,” Fraser said.
“I want to prove to everybody that twenty-somethings have something to say and what we have to say is important. I’m not too worried about the age. I can handle myself.”
Fraser said he plans to get his council bearings first, then start tackling ward issues.
“I’d really like to get to the bottom of the secondary access road into Parkdale and getting everybody on the same page with that. There are a lot of conflicting opinions and views about how things can and cannot be done and I want to get everyone of the same page.”
A subdued Rydholm was disappointed with the result.
“It was close,” she said. “There are a number of achievements that have been made over the years, for sure, but I’m really thankful that voters in Neebing have given me the experience I’ve had for 18 years, serving them.”
Oliver said she was surprised how much of a lead she built up in a race that four years ago was decided by just 45 votes, Virdiramo clinging to his seat despite a challenge from Frank Scarcello, who finished second in 2018 for the second straight election.
“It feels great, it feels amazing. It’s been a number of months of a lot of hard work, but I’m happy my message resonated with the people of Westfort and they’ve elected me to be their city council,” Oliver said, adding the challenge for the new council, which includes Mayor-elect Bill Mauro and at-large newcomers Mark Bentz and Peng Yu, will be tackling the social issues plaguing Thunder Bay.
“I think the electorate has spoken. They wanted a new council and tonight we’ve elected one.”
Aiello takes over from Trevor Giertuga, who was re-elected, but in the at-large race, finishing third in a 26-candidate field.
“I went to over 3,300 doors and knocked and talked to people. It was very positive and I felt really good. The more I canvassed, I felt more positive every time,” said Aiello, who scored a 678-vote victory over Ramage, 3,381 to 2,703, with Adam Gulbinowicz finishing a distant third at 694.
Hamilton, an entrepreneur who owns the popular Bean Fiend Café, beat out Nurmela by 696 votes, 1964 to 1,273.
“Wow, what an experience,” he said.
“You see the world in 3D after going through this and my eyes are wide open.”
Priorities ahead include getting the economy going, support for small businesses and to let the homeless know they have a council that cares about them.
Unofficial results in the ward race:
Current River
Andrew Foulds: 2,956
Jamie Cressman: 1,225
Andy Wolff: 508
Dick Waddington: 323
McIntyre
Albert Aiello: 3,381
Wesley Ramage: 2,703
Adam Gulbinowicz: 694
McKellar
Brian Hamilton: 1,964
Ashley Nurmela: 1,273
Robert Jankovic: 903
Donald McLeod: 529
Neebing
Cody Fraser: 1,422
Linda Rydholm: 1,325
Roberta Sawchyn: 963
Robin Rickards: 353
Richard Gunn: 311
Northwood
Shelby Ch'ng: 3,495
Mo El Kahil: 1,862
Red River
Brian McKinnon: 3,143
David George Noonan: 2,933
Donna Brown: 1,042
Westfort
Kristen Oliver: 2,752
Frank Scarcello: 1,901
Joe Virdiramo: 1,261
