Mayor of The City of Montreal | |
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Style | His/Her Worship |
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 the Montreal City Council. The current mayor is Denis Coderre, who was elected into office on November 3, 2013, and sworn in on November 14. The office of the mayor 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, by a plurality of votes, for a four-year term (unless a vacancy occurs). The mayor's office is located in Montreal City Hall.
The first poll in the history of Montréal was held on the day the first charter of Montréal came into effect – June 3, 1833.
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 was 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, incorporating the emblems of the main ethnic groups in the city. The rose represented England, the thistle referred to Scotland, the clover corresponded to Ireland, and the beaver, the French Canadians; this latter was replaced by the fleur de lys in 1938.
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.