Outgoing Mayor Richard Stewart hands the gavel to Craig Hodge at Coquitlam's final council meeting
Stewart wrapped up 18 years in office at the last meeting of the term, warning his successors against zero-percent tax freezes and calling mental health a priority for the new council.
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After 18 years in office, Mayor Richard Stewart delivered his farewell at the final Coquitlam council meeting of the term on October 29, then handed the gavel to Mayor-elect Craig Hodge, who takes office when the new council is sworn in on November 9.
Stewart opened with a line he attributed to himself when Gordon Campbell once asked him to run for office: "I laughed and said you'd have to be an idiot to run for office." The Tri-Cities Dispatch reported on his farewell speech, which covered transit, housing, mental health and reconciliation.
Transit and housing growth
Stewart said the Millennium Line's Evergreen Extension brought 35,000 new residents to Coquitlam between 2007 and 2020. He told the council that, without transit-oriented building patterns, housing another million people at the car-ownership rate he found when he joined council (60 percent) would require paving land the size of Port Coquitlam just for parking.
He said the City built a recreation centre in Maillardville, the YMCA in Burquitlam, and renovated Mundy Park Pool during his term, mostly through grants and without taking on debt.
Departing Councillor Dennis Marsden, who also spoke at the meeting, highlighted an affordable housing reserve fund of over $40 million built during the term.
Warning to the incoming council
Stewart told the new councillors not to promise zero-percent property tax freezes. He said such freezes typically force cuts to City programs. He did not name specific programs but said the incoming council would face pressure to keep taxes low at the cost of services.
Mental health
A large part of Stewart's speech covered mental health and addiction. He spoke about his daughter's hospitalizations and her later work as a psychiatric nurse. He praised the Brookside and Hillside programs and the Red Fish Healing Centre, and said bed capacity remains short of what is needed. He said: "That is 3030 Gordon," linking street disorder to public health failures.
Reconciliation
Stewart called for the new council to continue reconciliation with Kwikwetlem First Nation. He contrasted his French-Canadian mother's choice to settle in Maillardville with the absence of that choice for First Nations people.
The handover
Colleagues offered tributes before Stewart left. Mandewo, who ran for mayor and also departs from council, called him a consensus builder. Asmundson thanked him for his friendship. Stewart's final act was presenting the gavel to Craig Hodge. He noted the gavel was made of foam rubber.
Residents can follow the new council's first decisions at the promise tracker for Coquitlam's 2026 election. The new council meets for the first time on November 9.
Questions this story answers
When is the new Coquitlam council sworn in?
The new Coquitlam City Council is sworn in on November 9, 2026. That is when Mayor-elect Craig Hodge and the eight newly elected councillors take office. The swearing-in ceremony will follow the final meeting of the outgoing council, which was held on October 29.
How long was Richard Stewart mayor of Coquitlam?
Richard Stewart served 18 years as mayor of Coquitlam. He held office from 2008 until October 2026, when he did not seek re-election. Before becoming mayor, he served as the MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville in the BC Legislative Assembly.
What did Stewart say about the SkyTrain and housing growth?
Stewart said the Millennium Line's Evergreen Extension brought 35,000 new residents to Coquitlam between 2007 and 2020. He told the council that without transit-oriented building patterns, housing a million more people at the car-ownership rate of 60 percent he found when he joined council would require paving an area the size of Port Coquitlam just for parking.
What did Stewart say about property tax freezes?
Stewart warned the incoming council against zero-percent property tax freezes. He said such freezes typically force cuts to City programs and services. He did not name any specific programs but urged his successors to budget for the services residents depend on.
What is the affordable housing reserve fund Stewart mentioned?
Departing Councillor Dennis Marsden highlighted an affordable housing reserve fund of over $40 million built during the term. The fund was assembled without new debt, Marsden said. The reserve is one of the financial tools the new council led by Craig Hodge inherits when it takes office November 9.
What did Stewart say about mental health?
Stewart made mental health and addiction a major part of his farewell speech, referencing his daughter's hospitalizations and her later work as a psychiatric nurse. He praised the Brookside and Hillside programs and the Red Fish Healing Centre, and he said bed capacity for mental health treatment remains short of what is needed.
What did Stewart say about reconciliation with Kwikwetlem First Nation?
Stewart called for continued reconciliation with Kwikwetlem First Nation in his final speech. He drew a comparison between his French-Canadian mother's ability to choose to settle in Maillardville and the lack of that choice that was given to First Nations people. He did not announce any specific new agreements or initiatives.
Who received the gavel from Mayor Stewart?
Stewart presented the gavel to Mayor-elect Craig Hodge at the close of the final council meeting. Stewart noted the gavel was made of foam rubber. Hodge was elected mayor of Coquitlam on October 17, 2026, and takes office when the new council is sworn in on November 9.
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