Municipal Government History

Although originally proposed in 1832, municipal government status was first conferred in 1888 with a council of five elected councillors and two government appointees. At that time the population was approximately 30,000.

In 1921, the City of St. John's Act incorporated St. John's. Today, St. John's remains the commercial centre and political capital of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Council

Today, City Council consists of on elected Mayor, Deputy Mayor, five Ward Councillors and four Councillors-at-large. The following outlines how the City was governed from 1888 until today:

1888-1899
August 30, 1888 General Election Ward 1 John T. Carnell Ward 2 Francis St. John Ward 3 Moses Monroe Ward 4 Michael Power Ward 5 William Morison Government appointees on Council: James Goodfellow, Chairman and James P. Fox. The Hon. J. Harris succeeded James P. Fox who died before the end of his term. This was the first municipal election in St. John's and the first election under the Ballot Act. January 23, 1892 General Election Ward 1 John T. Carnell Ward 2 John T. Southcott Ward 3 James Goodfellow Ward 4 Michael Power Ward 5 Donald Morison Appointees to Council: Edward W. Bennett and Thomas Mitchell. On February 26, 1892, Mitchell was elected Chairman. In 1894 James J. Callahan was appointed to Council. 1893 By-Election: John Harris elected following the death of John Carnell. December 30, 1893: Chairman Thomas Mitchell was replaced by Thomas J. Edens 1894 By-election: John Harris was elected in a By-Election following the death of Carnell in 1893 January 4, 1894 Councillor Michael Power was elected Chairman January 23, 1896 General Election Ward 1 John Harris Ward 2 Thomas Keating Ward 3 John V. O'Dea Ward 4 Michael Power Ward 5 James T. Callahan Appointments by Government: Thomas J. Edens and R.A. McCoubrey The new Council held its first meeting on February 7, 1896 and Power was elected Chairman. Edens resigns on November 18, 1896 and replaced by M.K. Greene. 1898 to 1902: St. John's was governed by Commission. Three members were appointed by Government consisting of: H.C. Burchell, T.M. White and J.V. O'Dea 1899: P. C. O'Driscoll succeeded T. M. White on the Commission that ran St. John's from 1898 to 1902.T. M. White resigns from the Commission that governed St. John's for the period 1898 to 1902.
1900-1924
1900: H. F. Bradshaw appointed to the Commission that governed St. John's during the period 1898 to 1902. He replaced P.C. O'Driscoll and T. M. White. 1902: Abolishment of the Commission Legislation was passed providing for an elected Council consisting of a Mayor and six Councillors, all elected at large. Elections were to be held in June of every fourth year from 1902 onwards. June 19, 1902 General Election Mayor: George Shea Councillors: John R. Bennett William J. Ellis Charles F. Muir John Harris John Anderson Michael Kennedy Bennett received the highest vote among the six and was referred to as Senior Councillor and as such was to preside over Council Meetings in the absence of the Mayor. June 26, 1906 General Election Mayor: Michael P. Gibbs Councillors: William J. Ellis Michael Kennedy John Carew Samuel G. Collier John Cowan James T. Martin Between September 3-10, 1906 John Carew died in office, no by-election was held. July 1908: First civic strike held by sanitary workers. June 27, 1910 General Election Mayor: William J. Ellis Councillors: James Martin John Coaker James J. Channing Charles R. Ryan James J. Mullaly Martin W. Myrick August 9, 1911: Council opened the town's first civic-owned offices after having purchased the Seaman's Home in late 1910. July 1, 1914: Elected form of municipal government replaced by Commission system of government. Appointments: John Anderson Charles P. Ayre F. W. Bradshaw William Ellis William Gilbert Gosling John Harris Edward M. Jackman James McGrath Francis MacNamara Issac C. Morris James J. Mullaly J. W. Withers July 2, 1914. First meeting of Commission. William Gosling elected as chairman, defeating William Ellis who resigned after failing to become chairman. June 29, 1916 General Election Mayor: William G. Gosling Councillors: Issac C. Morris Dr. James S. Tait Henry J. Brownrigg James J. Mullaly Charles P. Ayre Nicholas J. Vinnicombe June 1920 to June 1921: St. John's run by Commission appointed by the Governor-in Council. July 5, 1920 Appointments: W. G. Gosling Charles P. Ayre Issac Morris James Mullaly Nicholas J. Vinnicombe July 1, 1921 to December 31, 1921: New commission appointed to replace the one that went out of office June 30, 1921. June 26, 1921. New commission took office. Appointments: Issac Morris, Chairman Samuel G. Collier W. H. Jackman James J. Mullaly Samuel H. Peet Nicholas J. Vinnicombe The old Commission ended its term of office on June 30, 1921 and the new Commission took office on July 26, 1921 leaving St. John's without any local government for nearly a month. August 2, 1921: Civic legislation known as the City Charter passed both Houses of the Legislature. This document was worked on extensively by William G. Gosling and laid out the rights and responsibilities of the council and it's officials. Women received the right to vote as a result of the charter. December 15, 1921. General Election Mayor: Tasker Cook Councillors: James T. Martin Philip E. Outerbridge Nicholas J. Vinnicombe Samuel G. Collier Charles W. Ryan Reginald Dowden The new position of Deputy Mayor was to be determined by a vote of all the Council.
1925-1944
December 8, 1925 General Election Mayor: Tasker Cook Councillors: Joseph Fitzgibbon Dr. Archibald C. Tait William E. Brophy Philip E. Outerbridge Charles W. Ryan James T. Martin Julia Salter Earle ran in this election and came within eleven votes of claiming the sixth and final Council seat. This is the first election in which women were allowed to run for Council. Three women ran unsuccessfully. 1927: The City's first Town Planning Commission appointed. December 9, 1929 General Election Mayor: Charles J. Howlett Councillors: Charles W. Ryan Andrew G. Carnell John P. Kelly Jonas C. Barter James R. Chalker Ernest St. Clair Churchill Andrew Carnell was elected Deputy Mayor. March 31, 1932: Charles J. Howlett died. Andrew Carnell administered the City. December 1933 General Election Mayor: Andrew Carnell Councillors: James R. Chalker Charles W. Ryan John P. Kelly Philip E. Outerbridge Michael F. Caul James J. Spratt Chalker elected as Deputy Mayor. Outerbridge resigns shortly afterwards. April 8, 1935 By-Election: John Williams wins seat left vacant by Philip E. Outerbridge December 16, 1937 General Election Mayor: Andrew G. Carnell Councillors:James R. Chalker James J. Spratt John P. Kelly John M. Tobin Kenneth Ruby John T. Meaney Chalker elected as Deputy Mayor. May 1, 1941: Kenneth Ruby dies while in office. December 15, 1941 General Election Mayor: Andrew G. Carnell Councillors:Eric Cook Edward Lawrence Oliver L. Vardy James J. Spratt John P. Kelly John T. Meaney 1943: Edward Lawrence and John T. Meaney died while in office. Their seats were filled by A. M. Fraser and H.G.R. Mews in a by-election later that same year.
1945-1964
November 13, 1945 General Election Mayor: Andrew G. Carnell Councillors:James J. Spratt Harry G. R. Mews Oliver L. Vardy John P. Kelly William P. Ryan Eric Jerrett Spratt was chosen as Deputy Mayor by Council. A tradition had evolved whereby the Deputy Mayor's position was given to the Councillor finishing first in the polls. 1948: William P. Ryan dies while in office. 1949: John P. Kelly dies in September 1949. November 8, 1949 General Election Mayor: Harry G. Mews Councillors:George Nightingale, Deputy Mayor James D. Higgins Joseph Fitzgibbon Eric Jerrett James Tucker Leo A. Earle The new Council was sworn in on January 3, 1950. January 7, 1950, Ronald Martin appointed City Engineer. March 9, 1950: Edward Foran appointed as Assistant City Clerk. June 1, 1950 By-Election: Won by Douglas Oilphant November 10, 1953 General Election Mayor: Harry G. R. Mews Councillors: James D. Higgins, Deputy Mayor George Nightingale Joseph Fitzgibbon James Tucker Leo A. Earle W. Gordon Warren November 12, 1957 General Election Mayor: Harry G. R. Mews Councillors: James D. Higgins, Deputy Mayor Joseph Fitzgibbon James Tucker George Nightingale Geoffrey C. Carnell Alec Henley James tucker resigned from Council on April 30, 1958. Joseph Fitzgibbon dies on December 17, 1960. No By-Election is held. June 23, 1958 By-Election:Won by Robert F. McLeod. Seat left vacant by the resignation of James Tucker. November 14, 1961 General Election Mayor: Harry G. R. Mews Deputy Mayor: William G. Adams Councillors: James D. Higgins Geoffrey C. Carnell Alec G. Henley Walter C. Carter James M. Fagan October 1963 James D. Higgins resigned as a result of an appointment to the Supreme Court. November 25, 1963 By-Election: Gerald A. Wiggins elected. 1964 - Wiggins dies in November 1964.
1965-1984
November 16, 1965 General Election Mayor: William G. Adams Deputy Mayor: John Crosbie Councillors: Walter Carter James Fagan Geoffrey Carnell Thomas Doyle Jim Browne July 1966 - Crosbie resigned from council. November 15, 1966 By-Election: Clarene L. Englebrecht (Bob Lewis) elected as Councillor. By-Election was called due to the resignation of John Crosbie from Council. November 18, 1969 General Election Mayor: William G. Adams Deputy Mayor: Leonard Stirling Councillors: Clarence Englebrecht (Bob Lewis) James Fagan Brian E. Higgins Dorothy Wyatt Jim Browne Albert Andrews Geoffrey Carnell Dorothy Wyatt was the first woman ever elected to Council. November 13, 1973 General Election Mayor: Dorothy Wyatt Deputy Mayor: John J. Murphy Councillors: Miller Ayre David G. Riche David Barrett James Fagan Brian E. Higgins Eric Gullage Ray O'Neill Dorothy Wyatt became St. John's first female mayor. On October 26, 1973 Eric Gullage resigned from Council. November 8, 1977 General Election Mayor: Dorothy Wyatt Deputy Mayor: Ray O'Neill Councillors: Suzanne Duff Brian E. Higgins James Fagan David Barrett Frances Innis Hugh Baird Andrew Wells Council took office on December 1, 1977. Previous councils had taken office on January 1st of the year following the election. First St. John's Day celebrations held on June 24, 1979. September 25, 1979 By-Election: Thomas Osbourne wins a By-Election that was called due to the death of Brian Higgins. November 3, 1981 General Election Mayor: John J. Murphy Councillors at large: Suzanne Duff, Deputy Mayor James Fagan David Barrett Ronald Pumphrey Ward 1: Andrew Wells Ward 2: John Tessier Ward 3: Bruce Tilley Ward 4: Thomas Osborne Council took office on December 1, 1981. Ronald Pumphrey resigns from Council in September 1984.
1985-2000
November 12, 1985 General Election Mayor: John J. Murphy Councillors at Large: Suzanne Duff, Deputy Mayor Raymond O'Neill Dorothy Wyatt David Barrett Ward 1: Andy Wells Ward 2: Eric Gullage Ward 3: Bruce Tilley Ward 4: Thomas Osborne May 24, 1989: Eric Gullage resigns from Council. November 13, 1990 General Election Mayor: Suzanne Duff Andrew Wells, Deputy Mayor Councillors at Large: Dorothy Wyatt, Raymond O'Neill, Basil Jamieson Ward 1: Wendy Williams Ward 2: Douglas Atkinson Ward 3: John Whalen Ward 4: Gerard Colbert Council takes office effective December 1, 1990. Douglas Atkinson resigns on September 28, 1992. February 25, 1992 By-election for Wards 5 and 6 Ward 5: Paul J. Reynolds Ward 6: John Dinn Wards 5 and 6 were added after the Towns of Wedgewood Park and the Goulds amalgamated with St. John's. November 24, 1992 By-Election: Bruce Tilley elected in Ward 2. By-Election called due to the resignation of Douglas Atkinson. Tilley was sworn in on December 7, 1992. November 9, 1993 General Election Mayor: John J. Murphy Councillors at Large: Andrew Wells - Deputy Mayor, Dorothy Wyatt, Jeffrey Brace, Marie White, Ray O'Neill Ward 1: Sean Hanrahan Ward 2: Shawn Skinner Ward 3: Keith Coombs Ward 4: Gerry Colbert Ward 5: John Dinn September 30, 1997 General Election Mayor: Andrew Wells Deputy Mayor: Marie White Councillors-at-Large: Peter Miller, Shannie Duff, Dennis O'Keefe, Dorothy Wyatt Ward 1: Sean Hanrahan Ward 2: Frank Galgay Ward 3: Keith Coombs Ward 4: Gerry Colbert Ward 5: John Dinn October 14, 1997 Council sworn in. Deputy Mayor Marie White sworn in as Acting Mayor due to a recount of the Mayor's vote. October 31, 1997 Andy Wells sworn in as Mayor
2001-2021
September 25, 2001 General Election Mayor: Andy Wells Deputy Mayor: Gerry Colbert Councillors at Large: Dennis O'Keefe, Shannie Duff, Paul Sears, Dorothy Wyatt [elected after her death] Ward 1: Art Puddister Ward 2: Frank Galgay Ward 3: Keith Coombs Ward 4: Kevin Breen Ward 5: John Dinn Dorothy Wyatt first candidate to be elected posthumously resulting in a by-election to be held later in the year. Council sworn in on October 9, 2001. November 27, 2001 By-Election: Sandy Hickman elected as Councillor at Large. Sworn in on December 3, 2001. September 27, 2005 General Election Mayor: Andy Wells Deputy Mayor: Dennis O'Keefe Councillors at Large: Gerry Colbert, Shannie Duff, Tom Hann, Sandy Hickman Ward 1: Art Puddister Ward 2: Frank Galgay Ward 3: Keith Coombs Ward 4: Ron Ellsworth Ward 5: Wally Collins October 11, 2005 New Council sworn in. March 3, 2008: Mayor Andy Wells resigns to take position as Chairperson of the Public Utilities Board. March 3, 2008 to April 18, 2008. Deputy Mayor Dennis O'Keefe assumes the role of Acting Mayor. April 18, 2008 to June 9, 2008 Councillor Shannie Duff assumes the role of Acting Mayor. June 3, 2008 By-Election: Dennis O’Keefe elected Mayor, Ron Ellsworth elected Deputy Mayor, Debbie Hanlon elected Ward 4 Councillor. June 9, 2008 Swearing in ceremonies for newly elected Council Members. September 29, 2009 General Election Mayor: Dennis O’Keefe Deputy Mayor: Shannie Duff Councillors at Large: Gerry Colbert, Tom Hann, Sandy Hickman, Sheilagh O’Leary Ward 1: Danny Breen Ward 2: Frank Galgay Ward 3: Bruce Tilley Ward 4: Debbie Hanlon Ward 5: Wally Collins October 13, 2009 New Council sworn in. September 24, 2013 General Election Mayor: Dennis O’Keefe Deputy Mayor: Ron Ellsworth Councillors at Large: Tom Hann, Sandy Hickman, Dave Lane, Art Puddister Ward 1: Danny Breen Ward 2: Jonathan Galgay Ward 3: Bruce Tilley Ward 4: Bernard Davis Ward 5: Wally Collins October 7, 2013 New Council sworn in. September 26, 2017 General Election Mayor: Danny Breen Deputy Mayor: Sheilagh O’Leary Councillors at Large: Sandy Hickman, Dave Lane, Debbie Hanlon, Maggie Burton Ward 1: Deanne Stapleton Ward 2: Hope Jamieson Ward 3: Jamie Korab Ward 4: Ian Froude Ward 5: Wally Collins October 10, 2017 New Council sworn in. October 20, 2020 By-Election:Shawn Skinner elected Ward 2 Councillor. Sworn in October 26, 2020 September 28, 2021 General Election Mayor: Danny Breen Deputy Mayor: Sheilagh O’Leary Councillors at Large: Sandy Hickman, Ron Ellsworth, Debbie Hanlon, Maggie Burton Ward 1: Jill Bruce Ward 2: Ophelia Ravencroft Ward 3: Jamie Korab Ward 4: Ian Froude Ward 5: Carl Ridgeley October 12, 2021 New Council sworn in.

City Administration

Throughout the City's history, a number of individuals have served in key roles.

City Clerks

1895-1899 P.W. Kelly, Secretary-Treasurer
1899-1902 M.K. Greene, Secretary-Treasurer
1902-1920 I.J. Slattery, Secretary-Treasurer
1920-1952 J.J. Mahoney, City Clerk
1952-1970 E.B. Foran, City Clerk
1970-1990 R.J. Greene, City Clerk
1990-2002 Damian Ryan, City Clerk
2002-2014 Neil Martin, City Clerk
2014-2021 Elaine Henley, City Clerk
2021-present Karen Chafe, City Clerk

City Engineers

1888-1890 Charles J. Harvey
1890-1891 F.H. Balfour (acting Engineer)
1891-1892 R.M. Pratt
1892-1893 A.J. Waghorne (acting Engineer)
1893-1894 Samuel Chapman
1894-1896 R.M Pratt
1896-1920 John Ryan
1921-1944 William P. Ryan
1944-1949 Grant Jack
1949-1959 Ronald Martin
1959-1963 Duncan Sharpe
1963-1979 Eric Mercer
1979-1992 James J Finn
1992-2010 Art Cheeseman
2010-2013 Walt Mills
2013-2019 Brendan O’Connell
2019- present Scott Winsor

Municipal Services

City services have come a long way in the last century.

Did you know, for example, that by the turn of the century, electric street cars provided public transit downtown along Water Street, Adelaide Street, Queens Road, Rawlins Cross and Military Road? Gasoline powered buses replaced the street cars in 1948.

Although there were electric street lights on the main roads and a public water supply, many residents registered complaints about inadequate sewage disposal facilities.

Under the Streets

The first sewage disposal systems in St. John's were put in place beginning in the late nineteenth century. Sewage discharge outfalls went to St. John's harbour. Neighbouring communities followed suit when installing their sewage disposal systems.

By the early 2000s the St. John's Harbour Clean-up project was in place. The plan was to treat wastewater before discharging it into the harbour. The Riverhead Wastewater Treatment Facility opened on the south side of St. John's harbour in 2009.

Archaeology and the Harbour Interceptor Sewer Project

The Harbour Interceptor sewer project installed two kilometres of sanitary sewer pipe under the historic downtown streets St. John's. This massive project required an Environmental Assessment. Part of the assessment was a historic resources (archaeological) study. The City hired Gerald Penney Associates Limited to conduct it.

Since 2004 they have had more than 10 archaeology permits and more than 60 archaeology sites in the area of the sewer installation. Many of these findings are outlined in a public presentation first given in February 2010.