St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron announced on Wednesday that she will not seek a third term in the mayor's office, seemingly forecasting an end to her 15-year career in municipal politics.
She told a crowd of approximately 200 attendees at the Enjoy Centre at the State of the City address on June 11 that her decision not to run for a third term came after "much soul-searching and internal struggle."
In an interview with the Gazette after her announcement, she didn't completely rule out a run for a council seat. Currently, she said she has no intentions to run in the October 2025 municipal election, but said she will stay open to opportunities that come her way.
"I'm going to see what opportunities present themselves. It is a hard decision," she said. She added that there's a number of projects the city has in the works that she'd like to see to completion.
"Whether it's from council or from the gallery, we'll see what pops up," she said, although acknowledging that right now, she just wants a bit of a break. "It's an exhausting job, it really is."
Heron was first elected as a councillor in 2010, and served two terms before running for mayor in 2017. She told the Gazette that she wasn't exactly sure when she knew it was time to step aside, but she said she always felt serving as mayor was a two-term position.
"This is not a career. It's a privilege to serve, and otherwise you get stale. And I've enjoyed every moment of it," Heron said.
During her time as mayor, she played a key role in the Edmonton Metropolitan Regional Board (EMRB) until it was dissolved in March 2025, and served as President of Alberta Municipalities from 2021 to 2023.
Looking back on her past two terms, she remarked through teary eyes how proud she was of the to be the city's leader during and in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. She recalled her Coffee with Cathy sessions where she live-streamed on Facebook to interact with residents, and said she cried when firefighters did a drive-by to show their support for frontline nurses.
"Yes it was probably the single scariest time in our lives. But what I remember was the positive, unwavering dedication to our community," she said.
She also noted how proud she was of particular accomplishments during her State of the City address, particularly the continued investment in the business community with the development of Anthony Henday Business Park and Lakeview Business District.
"In 2010 a significant percentage of our workforce — 59 per cent — commuted into Edmonton. Today, that number has improved and shifted down to 43 per cent, and more businesses are choosing to call St. Albert home," she said.
She cited that St. Albert has been ranked as a top city by a number of organizations, pointing to the Globe and Mail ranking St. Albert as one of the most livable cities in Canada.
Since 2010, she said that the city has built five new schools to ensure that St. Albert's children have "access to top-tier education." Along with the future community amenities site in Chérot and the affordable housing complex on 22 St. Thomas Street -- which still awaits an official announcement on provincial funding -- she said that she's excited to see what St. Albert creates next.
"The groundwork has been laid for the future of our city... the work we have done will resonate for generations," she said.
As of now, two other candidates have put their names forward to seek the mayor's office in the fall election.
Scott Olivieri, the board chair for the Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation, registered as a candidate for mayor in February. He commended Heron "for what she's done for the city."
"It's been an amazing journey to see St. Albert evolve over the years, and I'm excited for what the future is going to look like for St. Albert," Olivieri said. He added that he doesn't think his campaign will change with Heron officially out of the race.
"We looked at every possible opportunity but it doesn't change our plan. We're going to build out a platform that's very reflective of what the city and the community wants, and I'm excited to build on what St. Albert has come to be today," he said.
Current St. Albert councillor and mayoral candidate Wes Brodhead was first elected to council along with Heron in 2010. He said he considers her a great friend and that he'll look back on their time in municipal politics together fondly.
"She's been a great mayor for the city of St. Albert and I think the standing ovation of people here, they recognize the true value of what she brought to our community," Brodhead said. He added that he aspires to build on the work that Heron has already done if he is elected.
Although she may be stepping back from the limelight in the fall, she told the crowd that St. Albert still holds a special place in her heart.
"This is still my city, my home and my heart," she said.
