Montreal is set to welcome its new mayor after an eight-year reign. Soraya Martinez Ferrada, the leader of Ensemble Montréal, has made history by becoming the first Montreal mayor of Latin American descent. Born in 1972 in Santiago, Chile, Martinez Ferrada and her family sought refuge in Canada in 1980 to escape the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
Martinez Ferrada’s professional background is deeply rooted in the cultural and community sectors. She worked at the TOHU, an arts venue in Montreal, where she established a socio-professional integration program. Elected as a city councillor in 2005, she later joined the executive committee. Notably, she played a key role in the transformation of the Miron quarry into Frédéric-Back Park.
Her journey in federal politics began with planning Mélanie Joly’s 2015 election campaign, eventually leading to her role as a Liberal MP for Hochelaga. Martinez Ferrada served as a parliamentary secretary and later as the tourism minister and minister for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
Returning to municipal politics, Martinez Ferrada aims to address housing accessibility, homelessness, and mobility issues in Montreal. Emphasizing collaboration across all levels of government and sectors, she envisions a united approach to city governance. Her administration pledges to prioritize listening to citizens and enhancing construction site coordination.
Martinez Ferrada’s election victory signifies her homecoming to city hall, where she started her political career. She has faced scrutiny over her stance on bike paths and construction site management but remains committed to fostering dialogue and effective governance in Montreal.