New mayors, new mandates: Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows leaders pledge cooperation, fiscal responsibility

Maple Ridge Mayor Jerry Kok and returning Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole MacDonald struck similar themes of unity, responsible spending and collaboration as they officially began their new four-year terms on Tuesday.

In inaugural addresses delivered at their respective city halls on Nov. 3, both mayors acknowledged the challenges facing their communities, including affordability, development pressures and rising infrastructure costs, while emphasizing the importance of putting political differences aside following October’s municipal elections.

For Kok, the ceremony marked the beginning of his first term as mayor after defeating incumbent Dan Ruimy, while MacDonald returned for a second term with a largely familiar council.

Both leaders pledged to work collaboratively with their councils, municipal staff, neighbouring governments and First Nations, while balancing growth with the qualities that make their communities attractive places to live.

Kok promises to be mayor for all of Maple Ridge

In Maple Ridge, Kok used his inaugural address to call for a fresh start following the election, urging councillors and residents to shift their attention from campaign divisions to governing.

“Campaigns are about ideas, priorities, and possibilities. Governing is about turning those ideas into decisions and those decisions into results,” Kok said.

A longtime Maple Ridge resident who raised his family in the community, Kok reflected on conversations with residents during the campaign about affordability, traffic, taxation, public safety, housing, infrastructure and the future of downtown.

While those concerns underscored the challenges ahead, Kok said he was encouraged by residents’ optimism about the city’s future.

He also acknowledged that the new council would not always agree, but urged his six colleagues to maintain respectful debate and put the community ahead of politics.

“We can challenge an idea without attacking the person who brought it forward. We can debate passionately, take a vote, accept the result, and come back ready to work together again,” he said. “Seven people, seven perspectives, seven different life experiences, but one responsibility: leave Maple Ridge better than we found it.”

Kok thanked the outgoing mayor and council for their service and pledged to work closely with municipal staff, while encouraging residents to remain involved in civic affairs beyond election season.

He also emphasized his commitment to representing residents regardless of how they voted.

“I intend to be mayor for all of Maple Ridge,” Kok said. “Whether you voted for me or you didn’t, I am your mayor, and I will listen to you. I will respect you, and I will work for you.”

Looking ahead, Kok outlined a vision for a city where families can find affordable housing, businesses are encouraged to invest, residents feel safe and taxpayers can be confident their money is being spent responsibly.

He also committed to strengthening relationships with Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations, neighbouring municipalities and senior levels of government.

Kok closed by challenging residents to judge the new council on its accomplishments rather than its promises.

“Our job now isn’t simply to manage the growth. Our job is to shape the future,” he said. “Over the next four years, I want you to judge us not simply by what we say, but what we actually accomplish.”

MacDonald highlights continuity and challenges ahead

In Pitt Meadows, MacDonald emphasized the stability of her returning council and the importance of maintaining the collaborative approach she said helped deliver results during her first term.

Five councillors returned to the council table, with newcomer Ariane Jaschke replacing longtime Coun. Gwen O’Connell, who retired after more than 25 years of municipal service.

MacDonald paid tribute to O’Connell, saying her departure leaves a significant gap, while welcoming Jaschke’s business experience, community involvement and fresh perspectives.

“The past four years have shown we can debate, disagree, compromise, collaborate, move items, make progress, and accomplish great things, all woven together with the essential threads of respect and decorum,” MacDonald said.

She pointed to several accomplishments from the previous term, including enhanced police and fire services, expanded parks and recreation amenities, green-space preservation, active transportation improvements and upgrades to critical infrastructure such as pump stations.

MacDonald also highlighted the city’s advocacy on agriculture, water, health and education, alongside its work on truth and reconciliation.

However, she acknowledged that the municipality continues to face significant financial and development challenges.

Those include funding shortfalls and escalating costs for major projects such as the Harris Road underpass, provincial housing legislation that has placed additional demands on municipal resources, and broader affordability pressures.

“These challenges have not gone away. If anything, they have heightened,” she said.

MacDonald also cited economic uncertainty involving the United States and growing political divisions across the region.

She suggested Pitt Meadows had distinguished itself during an election that brought substantial turnover to other municipal governments, pointing to the value of a stable, respectful council.

“With the important and complex work we face over the next four years, together is the only way we can get things accomplished,” she said.

The returning mayor stressed the importance of maintaining strong relationships with Katzie First Nation, provincial and federal governments, municipal staff and community organizations.

She also committed to fiscal responsibility as the city balances development with protecting its existing character.

“During the campaign and today, there is not a list of false promises or grand ideas, but a commitment for us to roll up our sleeves and work with fairness, with balance, with transparency, and fiscal responsibility, and care and kindness,” MacDonald said.

She said the city’s responsibility is to preserve what makes Pitt Meadows special while improving municipal services, supporting economic development and accommodating responsible growth.

Shared priorities, different starting points

While the two mayors enter the new term under different circumstances, their inaugural addresses revealed several overlapping priorities.

Both emphasized responsible management of public finances, respectful debate around the council table, stronger intergovernmental relationships and the need to balance development with community character.

For Kok, the immediate challenge will be translating his election victory into a governing agenda while building working relationships with a new council.

For MacDonald, the focus will be maintaining continuity while addressing unresolved infrastructure costs, housing pressures and municipal service demands.

Neither mayor announced specific new spending commitments or policy initiatives during their inaugural remarks, instead focusing on the principles they intend to bring to the council table.

Kok summed up his approach by urging Maple Ridge residents to remain engaged and hold their elected officials accountable.

“City Hall doesn’t build a great city. People do,” he said.

MacDonald offered a similar message about the importance of community participation and collective responsibility.

“Pitt Meadows is an unbelievable community, and we carry the precious responsibility of preserving and protecting what makes it special, while also progressing in improving services, supporting economic vibrancy, smart growth, and livability for our residents of today and into the future,” she said.