Whitehorse Mayor Laura Cabott will not be seeking re-election in October.

Cabott announced her decision via a news release this afternoon.

“I have enjoyed working as  part of a team leading this great city. Being an effective mayor is all-consuming and requires one to be fully present in Whitehorse. That work has been a privilege and an honour. So after six years on council, I feel it’s time for me to take on new projects,” she said.

She served one term as a councillor before being elected mayor in 2021.

“I pride myself on being well-prepared, knowing the files inside and out, and being a fierce advocate for this city,” she said. “In addition, I have enjoyed representing Whitehorse at so  many important and celebratory events.”

But now, “there are other projects I want to dedicate my time to.” She did not go into further detail.

Cabott said she is proud of the many accomplishments she achieved working closely with council and city administration.

She didn’t waste any time outlining what she considered her major achievements.

“We began to effectively tackle the housing crisis by lobbying the federal and  territorial governments for housing-specific and infrastructure funding, which we  secured. We developed and approved an Official Community Plan that sustainably plans for hundreds more housing units every year to support our growing city.

“We approved new neighborhood master plans and revised our zoning bylaws to allow for smart,  sustainable densification and work continues to streamline the development and  permitting process.”

She also singled out the city’s transit system.

“We have dedicated significant financial and human resources to make our transit system more effective and efficient. In the history of Whitehorse, ridership has never been higher. Every month, we continue to break records. We have added more routes, more buses as well as Sunday and holiday service. Further enhancements are coming this summer.” 

Intergovernmental relations also caught her eye.

“This has been a high point for Whitehorse. The city’s regular meetings with territorial ministers and senior department heads, as well as a  number of key federal ministers and First Nations leaders, have paid off.”

She added, “I want to thank all my council colleagues for their commitment and hard work. They have all put in many hours and dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to holding elected office. For me, and for all of us, it is a privilege.”