In their own words:
Westmount’s new council

Mayoral candidates and new city councillors on their campaign and priorities

By Irwin Rapoport

November 17, 2025

Following a tumultuous and intense November 2 Westmount municipal election, Westmount Magazine reached out to Mayor Michael Stern and his two opponents – Lynne Casgrain, a well-known attorney and former Ombudsperson at the MUHC and former District 6 City Councillor Mary Gallery, and the newly elected and acclaimed councillors for their comments on the election campaigns and immediate priorities.

Mayor Michael Stern:

WM: How would you describe your campaign and how it unfolded?

Stern: I believe my campaign was well planned and executed. It was organized by my campaign manager, family members (my wife and son), and several other key advisors. We also had many volunteers who were committed to helping me deliver my message.

I always acted and believed that I had a significant chance to win, as my skills and experience are what Westmount needs now – financial, management, and business.

– Michael Stern, Mayor of Westmount

WM: Many believed it would be a two-way race between Lynne Casgrain and Mary Gallery. In your view, what happened, and what do you attribute your victory to?

Stern: I always acted and believed that I had a significant chance to win, as my skills and experience are what Westmount needs now – financial, management, and business.

WM: What are your top priorities for the first 100 days of your mandate, and what is the key to working with a council that is a combination of new and veteran councillors?

Stern: My platform and my priorities are as I stated during the campaign:

Making sure that we have a culture of focus on the residents as customers.
.
Listen to residents and city employees. This is essential to make sure we have the best ideas to make Westmount the envy of all.
.
Infrastructure – update the status report of all infrastructure, including Hydro Westmount, and prepare a Master Plan to replace/repair as necessary over a reasonable period.
.
Improve basic services – restoring weekly garbage collection, while we continue to educate residents so that they can compost and recycle as best as possible. Improve maintenance, snow removal and make the permitting process more user-friendly (while respecting our heritage).
.
Review and improve public safety and security.
.
Improve our financial performance.
.
Accessibility – improve access for all to city staff and facilities.
.
Transparency – communicate the information necessary so that taxpayers know how their money is being spent.
.
Develop the South-East, which will provide a great benefit to the city – housing, business, and a tax base that will add to the funds needed to benefit all residents.
.
Innovation – bring the best facilities, solutions and technology that is available.

Lynne Casgrain

WM: How would you describe your campaign and how it unfolded?

Casgrain: My campaign was one of change, social progress and frugality, checking expenditures and looking at corresponding gains in services. In addition, I wanted to reinvigorate the Westmount community spirit and the cohesion that Westmount has exhibited over the decades. Finally, I was concerned by the possible development of the Southeast, which, while some is inevitable and necessary, I believe it is important not to turn that corner into a mini Manhattan. I believe we need to be mindful of Westmount’s built heritage, build on a human scale and make sure we do not cut off the south of Dorchester from the rest of Westmount.

‘I was concerned by the possible development of the Southeast… we need to be mindful of Westmount’s built heritage, build on a human scale and make sure we do not cut off the south of Dorchester from the rest of Westmount.’

– Lynne Casgrain, mayoral candidate

WM: Many believed it would be a two-way race between you and Mary Gallery. What were you hearing when you went door-to-door and spoke with residents at various locations? Did you find residents were engaged, and what type of questions were they asking you?

Casgrain: During door-to-door, some residents were engaged and others not. Those who were engaged had a variety of preoccupations: Southeast development, infrastructure, finances and security.

WM: Do you have plans to be an active citizen concerning the PPU and Westmount affairs in general over the next four years?

Casgrain: I intend to remain active in Westmount life and, in particular, will try to help the Southeast corner, where poverty and homelessness belie Westmount’s reputation of prosperity.

Mary Gallery

Westmount Magazine did not receive a response from Mary Gallery prior to publication.

City council members

Below are the comments from the city’s newly elected council members:

District 1 – Councillor Antonio D’Amico

Regarding my comments regarding the municipal election, based on my interactions with residents, the two top issues in my district are the state of the roads (and sidewalks) and the household waste (landfill) pick-up. Unlike the previous two elections, there were substantially more candidates, and in my opinion, the increase in social media has given rise to more “negative” campaigns.

As regards to my priorities, as stated in my platform:

To concentrate on core municipal services (roads, sidewalks, water, sewers, air and garbage)
.
To assist Council in prioritizing major infrastructure projects
.
To make Westmount streets safer and cleaner
.
To keep Summit Woods green, safe and accessible to all Westmounters

District 2 – Councillor Jonathan Chomski

My campaign in District 2 was shaped by the voices of its residents. Throughout the campaign, I went door-to-door, meeting hundreds of neighbours in both English and French. I asked open-ended questions about what mattered most to them – and I listened. Those conversations were the foundation of my platform. Residents spoke about everyday concerns: traffic and speeding, waste collection, the preservation of our trees, and a growing sense that City Hall wasn’t truly hearing them.

From the beginning, my goal was not simply to represent the community, but to reflect it – to ensure that residents played an active role in shaping the change they wanted to see. As I take my seat on Council, that same commitment remains at the heart of my work: to stay accessible, engaged, and focused on the issues that shape how people experience life in our neighbourhood. In the end, that’s what it all came down to – your streets, your services, your choice.

District 3 – Councillor Jeff Shamie

I am honoured to have been elected by acclamation to serve a 3rd term as District 3 Councillor in Westmount.

This trust is humbling and carries great responsibility. I may have been elected by acclamation, but I take this role very seriously. I am dedicated to advocate for each and every resident. I am committed to listening, engaging, and working for the best interests of my residents in District 3 as well as for all our community.

I am committed to helping residents navigate City Hall, and I have been available to answer questions on topics ranging from infrastructure, public safety and the démonstrations, the Southeast, urban planning, building permits, garbage collection, waterworks, parks, tree canopy, snow removal, and roadwork.

During the recent municipal election, I went door-to-door and met many residents. As I have mentioned, we have much work to do and together I believe we can make our city an even better community to live in.

District 4 – Councillor Gurveen Chadha

Thank you to the residents of District 4 for placing their trust in me. This campaign was built at the grassroots level. I personally knocked on every single door in the district — and on many of them more than once — connecting with residents at their doorsteps, by phone, over coffee, and in the park. Those conversations made clear what residents want in a councillor: someone who listens carefully, plans thoughtfully, and delivers results. I will hit the ground running.

I also want to commend the other candidates in District 4 for a campaign led with respect and civility — a reminder that positive politics is possible. And I thank Conrad Peart for his eight years of service to our community.

District 5 – Councillor Shawn Moss

I am deeply grateful to have gained the trust of my District 5 neighbours. This was a spirited campaign, one that I believe raised important questions about representation and our community’s priorities. I am thankful to everyone who engaged in this process and took the time to vote.

My campaign was a grassroots effort (just my wife and me), focused on door-to-door conversations, and residents responded to a neighbour who is personally invested in our district, with no outside agenda.

With my 20-plus years of professional experience as an architect and project manager, and proven track record of collaboration, voters saw that I could go beyond campaign promises and use my experience to provide real oversight on city projects and work towards a more sustainable, accessible, and fiscally responsible community.

My immediate priority is to build a collaborative and productive relationship with the residents of District 5, my new colleagues on Council and our new Mayor. As I get fully immersed in my assigned portfolio, I am also working towards launching my Neighbourhood Liaison initiative. This program will identify a resident or two on each of our District 5 streets to provide a direct line of communication for ideas, concerns and feedback, ensuring your voices are always part of the conversation.

District 6 – Councillor Paul Levine

I’m deeply grateful to the residents of District 6 for the trust they’ve placed in me. I ran a focused campaign built around a few clear priorities. I spent the campaign knocking on doors, holding parlour meetings, and listening carefully to people’s concerns.

My top priority is restoring peace and quiet to our neighbourhood. Peaceful protest is a right, but harassment and intimidation are not, and I intend to address that issue firmly and fairly. As a forensic accountant, I’ll ensure taxpayers receive full value for their money in every city initiative. I’m also committed to revitalizing Greene Avenue, restoring it as Westmount’s vibrant and thriving business hub. Beyond that, I believe our roads, parks, and recreation facilities can and should be as good as those in any neighbouring city, reflecting the high standards our residents expect and deserve.

I intend to work collaboratively with the new Mayor and my fellow Councillors, and I will continue to engage and listen to citizens of District 6.

District 7 – Councillor Matt Aronson

Our grassroots campaign reached over 80% of District 7’s registered voters door-to-door. What I heard from voters was that they wanted a solutions-oriented approach. Over four years, I delivered results – from the SE Sector PPU, bringing needed housing to environmental initiatives, showing measurable impact.

I also heard from residents who felt they weren’t consulted or heard over the last four years. That feedback is important to me. Even though the last council held more public consultations than any in Westmount’s history, it can be disappointing when the things you want aren’t in the final plan or decision. In a democracy, we don’t all get our way even when we have our say. My job is to weigh all opinions carefully and make choices that help those who need it most or serve the overall benefit of our community.

Moving forward, I’ll continue representing all District 7 residents and remain open to all opinions as I work to deliver on my commitments. My priorities are housing security, community safety, improved communication, and environmental action. I’ll push for the PPU to deliver community benefits, fight to repair streets and sidewalks, explore reintroducing Park Wardens, and advocate for Environmental Advisory Committee recommendations. Underlying everything: improving how City Hall communicates and reducing friction in services.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve District 7 and Westmount again for the next four years.

District 8 – Councillor Kathleen Kez

Though there were some aspects of the campaign that were not so pleasant and that I would like to forget, the best part was knocking on all the doors in District 8, meeting the many wonderful residents, and discussing their concerns. I am honoured and grateful that residents have given me the opportunity to serve for another 4 years to continue my efforts to make District 8 a better place to live. Some of my immediate priorities include fixing the basics, some of which include:

Safety in the area. The safety of our residents is a priority that must be taken seriously. I will continue to be in constant communication with our administration, public safety, the SPVM and CIUSS (Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux) regarding homelessness and safety on our territory.
.
There is an urgent need to ensure the safety and cleanliness of St. Catherine Street and the surrounding area. Development in the area will not be overnight, and the need for immediate improvements ( lighting, planting, perhaps murals, etc.) is not an option.
.
To work closely with Montreal to ensure adequate law enforcement is allocated to our area during demonstrations. But what is needed is a law requiring permits for regular protests. We also need to ensure the Quebec National Assembly gives the police the tools they need, as right now, all they can do is de-escalate.
.
Planning for the repairs of roads, sidewalks and lanes.
.
Planning for the maintenance and enhancements of our parks and green spaces
.
The return of Selby Park for 2026. This park has been missing since 2015, and residents have been waiting for its return for a very long time.
.
We need more traffic control measures to ensure the safety of all.
.
Need for resident-only parking zones on many of our residential streets. Due to our proximity to a busy commercial area and the RCMP building, we need some dedicated 24-hour “resident only” parking zones on our residential streets to address the ongoing challenges of daytime parking.
.
Relief for residents living along the Ville Marie Expressway.

Feature image: The new Westmount city council (Matt Aronson was absent) – courtesy of the City of Westmount

Other articles by Irwin Rapoport
Other recent articles

Irwin Rapoport is a freelance journalist and community advocate from Westmount with bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science from Concordia University. He writes extensively on local politics, education, and environmental issues, and promotes informed public discourse and local democracy through his writing and activism.