`IT'S ABOUT KEEPING THE SHIP RUNNING'
New Baie-d'urfé mayor Ektvedt takes on challenge of leading town
The West Island's newest mayor, Heidi Ektvedt, is a relative newcomer to municipal politics.
Ektvedt took the plunge last year when she won a seat on Baie-d'urfé town council in a byelection.
She recently became mayor by acclamation when she replaced outgoing Maria Tutino, who held the post for 15 years.
Ektvedt, 50, has a background in business management in the fashion industry. She is a mother of three children, ages 10, 13 and 14.
The Montreal Gazette recently interviewed Ektvedt about her new role and challenges facing the town of 3,900.
Q How long have you lived in Baie-d'urfé?
A I moved here in 2004 as a newlywed. The main purpose was to start a family and raise my children here.
Q Where did you grow up?
A I'm a West Islander. I was born and raised in Roxboro. We lived on 19th Ave. My mom still lives there. There were four girls in my family.
Q What prompted you to get involved in municipal politics?
A I grew up in a family where my father (Syvert Ektvedt) was a full-time working parent but he also gave back to his community. He was a town councillor in Roxboro ( before it merged with Pierrefonds). I didn't realize it until very recently but it certainly had an impression on my life. In the meantime, as
I was raising my own family, I was always looking at ways to volunteer. I was involved with the Girl Guides. Finally, when my children were old enough, I got involved in the parks and recreation committee, which is a volunteer citizens group that supports town council. From there it just evolved ... I ran in a byelection a year and a half ago.
Q Why did you want to be mayor?
A I really enjoyed the last 18 months on council. It's been very rewarding. I'm very humbled with how citizens have reached out and connected. It's quite special. I'm not going to necessarily be loved by everybody but I have to say, people feel that they can talk to me and that I listen. I love the people, we have great support from the administration, a strong independent council. We challenge each other, but it's done respectfully.
Q How much will the Montreal Agglomeration Council be collecting from Baie-d'urfé in 2021?
A It's 6.4 per cent (increase). We're in budget crunch time now but there's a silver lining
... because we have an industrial park (to help offset residential taxes).
Thanks to Maria Tutino, we've always prided ourselves on having the lowest tax (mill) rates. We're going to look at balancing that. We have to be very smart in our financial decisions ... but we also have to make sure we're getting the projects done that our citizens have been asking for.
Q What major projects need doing?
A There are several large projects that are ongoing. We're starting to see a new plan for work to be done on Lakeshore Rd., heading west to Ste-anne's. We have a lot of cyclists passing through and also living right here. So the quality of our roads consistently comes up and that's something we absolutely plan on tackling.
The town hall is in need of renovation. It's been an ongoing discussion for several years. We've been looking at the plans and are hoping to present them to citizens and get their feedback on it. And there's been ongoing talk about the berm (along Highway 20).
Q Are you planning to run for mayor in the 2021 municipal election?
A It's too early to say. Obviously, if there was no interest, I don't think I would have put my name forward now. It's very premature at this point. Right now, it's about keeping the ship running and making sure people know we're a good town. This change is not going to make a difference in the lives of Baie-d'urfé residents. The town was run very well, very responsibly. A year is not a long time.