When the current Portage la Prairie council began its term, Mayor Sharilyn Knox made a decision that set this administration apart: each councillor would serve a term as deputy mayor. The idea, says Joe Masi, now serving in that role, was to give every member a chance to understand the responsibilities involved.
“I think it was a really good idea. It gives everybody an opportunity to experience the role of deputy mayor,” Masi says.
Each councillor has held the position for about eight months. Masi, the fifth to serve, began his term in July and will hold the role until February 2026. Councillor Colin Doyle will follow as the final deputy mayor before the next election.
“It’s a very important role,” Masi notes. “You're there ultimately if the mayor is unable to attend meetings or fulfill obligations for whatever reason.”
Stepping in during critical moments
The importance of the position became especially clear earlier this year when wildfires prompted emergency meetings with displaced residents and city staff. During that time, Knox was away attending the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference, and Councillor Faron Nicholls, serving as deputy mayor at the time, filled in.
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“Councillor Nicholls was here, and he was the deputy mayor at the time. He represented the city in those meetings with staff and did a great job,” he says. “He kept us informed of what was happening, particularly Mayor Knox, who was away.”
Learning from others
As the newest deputy mayor, Masi says the rotation has allowed him to learn from those who’ve already served. He spoke with each of his colleagues about their experience and the pressures that come with the position.
“It certainly is a responsibility that I take seriously,” Masi says. “I hope I can do as well as my colleagues have done.”
A deliberate shift from past practices
Not every municipality follows this kind of system. In many cities, a single deputy mayor serves throughout the council term, or a single councillor may fill the position for several years. Knox chose a different approach.
“It really varies across municipalities,” Masi says. “But I think all of us as council feel very good about it, that we all get a chance to experience it.”
He says having multiple councillors share the role allows for deeper understanding of what it means to lead, and gives the mayor a chance to build confidence in each member of her team.
“I think it’s a good trust that she has in all of us to serve in this role. I feel really good about that,” he adds.
Representing the mayor at events
Deputy mayors often attend public functions, meetings and events when the mayor is unavailable. Masi says he’s already attended several engagements and expects more to come.
“I’m quite amazed at how many invitations the city gets from various organizations and groups,” Masi says. “One of the big functions of the deputy mayor is, if the mayor’s not available, to go and bring greetings on behalf of the city and represent the city.”
While other councillors can still attend, it is typically the deputy mayor who delivers official greetings on behalf of the mayor and council.
Liaising with government and staff
The role also involves representing council in meetings with different levels of government, local organizations, and others.
“If the mayor’s not available and staff feel there should be a council presence, it’s often the deputy mayor who fills in,” Masi explains. “That could be meetings with the provincial or federal government, or right here in Portage.”
Any matters requiring council input are brought back and discussed with Knox, and decisions are made collaboratively. The key, Masi says, is communication and trust.
“We have such a high level of trust on our council with one another, and also with the mayor,” he says. “That makes the job a lot easier.”
Understanding the mayor’s perspective
Masi says one benefit of the rotating role is the insight it provides into the mayor’s workload.
“I think that was some of the thinking: to give every council member an opportunity to see the demands of the position,” he says. “It’s a big job, and you have to take it seriously.”
Even with a background in municipal politics, including time as executive director of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, Masi says nothing quite prepared him for the full scope of the role.
“I never realized the demand on the position as much as I’ve seen now, as a member of council and now as deputy mayor,” he says. “It really is a good learning experience.”
Handling public concerns
When it comes to complaints or public concerns, Masi says the first point of contact should usually be city staff. However, he acknowledges that people do sometimes reach out to elected officials directly.
“I know in talking to Mayor Knox, there are certainly a lot of people that communicate with her regularly,” Masi says. “There may be complaints, and sometimes there are even compliments.”
If the mayor is away, it falls to the deputy mayor to ensure proper communication with staff and to act as a liaison.
“It is a lot of liaison with staff, if the mayor is not available,” he adds.
Empowering council and building confidence
Overall, Masi believes Knox’s decision to rotate the deputy mayor role has brought significant benefits to the entire council.
“I think it really makes us all feel even more part of the council and empowers us,” Masi says. “It’s a great learning experience.”
He recalls one councillor who said they gained confidence and communication skills through the experience.
“I just grew as an individual,” the councillor told Masi. “I got more confident speaking, and I was able to deal with things.”
Looking ahead
Councillor Colin Doyle is scheduled to serve as deputy mayor next, rounding out the council’s term before the next election.
“I commend Mayor Knox for setting up this system,” Masi says. “I think all of my colleagues will take this role seriously.”
Masi says he is proud to follow in the footsteps of those who served before him and looks forward to doing his part over the next eight months.
“There were some tough issues even when they were deputy mayor, and I assume there will be some in my eight months,” he says. “Now that I’m in this position, I can really see the demands of the mayor’s role, and I’m looking forward to the challenge. Ultimately, it’s not about the title of Deputy Mayor that is important. It’s about serving our citizens and making our community better, that is important.”
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