BELLEVILLE — The newest member of Belleville city council, Tyler Allsopp, was sworn in on Monday morning.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only Allsopp, his wife, their daughter, Mayor Mitch Panciuk, chief administrative officer Rod Bovay and city clerk Matt MacDonald were allowed to attend the ceremony.
Allsopp was chosen by council after over six weeks of back-and-forth to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Coun. Pat Culhane in November. Allsopp has become the ninth member of the city council for the rest of this term.
The seat was appointed to Allsopp as part of a longstanding tradition in which the candidate who received the next most votes in the most recent election earns the empty seat. Following the death of Culhane, Allsopp was next in line.
Allsopp has a particular interest in mental health and serves as treasurer of a local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, known as the Enrichment Centre for Mental Health.