Mayor of Montreal

Mayor of The City of Montreal

Seal of City of Montreal
Incumbent
Gérald Tremblay

since January 1, 2002
Style The Honourable
Residence Montreal City Hall
Appointer Direct popular vote
Term length 4 years
Inaugural holder Jacques Viger
June 5, 1833
Formation First charter of Montreal
June 3, 1833
Website City of Montreal

The Mayor of Montreal is head of the executive branch of Montreal City Council.

The Mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and provincial laws within Montreal.

The Mayor is directly elected by citizens, with a simple majority, for a four-year term.

The Mayor's office is located in Montreal City Hall.

Contents

History of the office

The first poll in the history of Montreal was held on the day the First charter of Montreal came into effect, namely June 3, 1833.[1]

On June 5, 1833 city council chose Jacques Viger as the first mayor of Montreal. The same day that Jacques Viger was elected mayor of Montréal, city council adopted a series of administrative by-laws, as well as ordinances to improve cleanliness in city districts. Andrew Steven Fox has been appointed as the mayor's medical advisor.

The first Coat of arms of Montreal and the motto "Concordia Salus" were adopted on July 19, 1833 as proposed by Viger. The emblems of the main ethnic groups in Montréal were given prominence. The rose represented England, the thistle referred to Scotland, the clover corresponded to Ireland, and the beaver, as the emblem of French Canadians, was replaced by the fleur de lys in 1938.[2]

In 1851 city council decided to provide the first magistrate of the city with a sumptuous chain; it is an old English practice. The coat of arms of Montreal figured prominently in the centre of the gold chain. On October 2, 1851, that chain was passed on to mayor Charles Wilson at a ceremony presided over by Lord Elgin, governor general of Canada. The chain is now worn by each new mayor at the swearing in ceremony. At the election in February 1852, Wilson became the first mayor elected by citizens.[3]

Starting with the 2009 Montreal municipal election, the mayor of Montreal is also the mayor of the borough of Ville-Marie.

See also

References

External links