Deagle Gammon talks about the first
weeks as an HRM councillor
FALL RIVER: It’s been a whirlwind six days for newly elected District 1 Councillor Cathy Deagle Gammon as she learns the ropes of being the representative on HRM council for Waverley-Fall River-Musquodoboit Valley.
During an interview at a Fall River coffee shop, Deagle Gammon spoke about the days since being sworn in; what topics she has been emailed about from residents; and about upcoming meetings she has with constituents in Elderbank, Meagher’s Grant, and in the Fall River area.
“It’s an amazing learning experience,” said Deagle Gammon. “It feels like you’re in a bit of a jigsaw puzzle and you’re getting all this orientation from the different business units, the CAO and the Mayor’s office.
“Every day there’s two or three big information pieces coming to you, so you have time tor receive and process it.”
Deagle Gammon said she’s thrilled to be part of a council that is trailblazing with eight women and eight men.
She said she was looking forward to learning more.
“Once boot camp is over, we’ll feel grounded in what the process is,” she said. “I’m very much a process person. I like knowing the rules, and I like being creative so understanding everything first then you’ll understand.
“The first week is all about information, including receiving info from our residents in our emails from them telling me about issues and making me aware of things.”
Deagle Gammon said people have been generous with the information and time.
“When I was campaigning, I got an intro level on issues in the district, but since then I have received more in-depth and detailed-level of many issues,” she said. “I have been able to get out to visit our communities during the days and evenings to meet people, like in Dutch Settlement at Philly’s Country Oven.”
She said it’s lovely to have a Deputy Mayor like Lisa Blackburn who is helping the new councillors learn the ropes. There’s also the experience of Becky Kent, a former MLA who was also a municipal councillor in the past.
“There’s unique history there that we can all rely on,” she said. “There is also the incredible wealth of returning councillors who have their own set of skills we can draw on.
“I think this is going to be an amazing council, an amazing team supported by amazing councillor constituency assistants.”
