• Our Mayor
• Councillors
• Administration
• Council Agenda
• City Budget
• Council Meetings

122 Carmarthen St.
Saint John, NB
E2L 2N8
Phone - Cell – 650-1967
michelle.hooton@saintjohn.ca

Michelle Hooton, Deputy Mayor , was elected to Saint John Common Council in May 2004. Michelle has been an entrepreneur since the age of 19 when she opened her first business, “Body Electric Aerobics,” on King Street. Two years later, she moved to New York City and opened Body Electric Aerobics Ltd., where the New York Times named the studio one of New York’s top seven aerobic hot spots.

Upon returning to Canada, Michelle opened The Secret Garden in the City Market, which she owned and operated from 1992–1999.   In 1997 she bought The Pasta Place, over-hauled the entire operation and launched Sisters Italian Foods Ltd.

Michelle was Drama Director at Saint John High School, 2002-2006, and is Artistic Director of the Saint John Performing Arts Summer Program.

She and her husband Ralph have raised three daughters, Kaitlin, Meaghan and Sara, who are currently pursuing their post secondary educations. The Hooton’s live in Uptown Saint John and are passionately committed to the future of this community.

Deputy Mayor Hooton serves on a number of committees including:

• Chair – By-Law Review Committee
• Chair – Finance Committee
• Chair – Communities in Bloom
• Chair – Saint John’s Blooming Spirit
• Chair – Heritage Development Board
• Member – Steering Committee for Operational Review
• Member – Saint John Community Arts Board
• Member – Festivals and Events Committee
• Member – S.T.A.C.
• Member - Advantage Saint John
• Member – Skateboard Park Committee
• Member – Vision 2015 Committee
• Member - The Knowledge Task Force
• Member - Prince of Wales National Heritage Task Force
• Member - Doors Open
• Member – Saint John Rotary Club
• Honorary Chair 2004 Run for the Cure
• Honorary Chair 2006 Walk for Life

Council Portfolio

Heritage: The creation of this portfolio demonstrates the importance this Mayor and Council place on our Heritage Properties and our future Heritage Development.

Council unanimously approved Saint John’s Art and Culture Policy, which states:
Common Council will continue to maintain an inventory of Heritage properties within the City and the role such properties can play in promoting Saint John as a physically  and historically interesting  and unique community, with a strong sense of it’s past and it’s traditions.

Thanks to the work of a great many dedicated people, we now have a very clear understanding of the contribution that Heritage Development plays in formulating the landscape of the future of Saint John.  Historic preservation allows increases to our tax base without additional infrastructure costs, while also allowing us to avoid urban sprawl.

Our Historic architecture is one of Saint John’s most coveted assets.  We have the largest inventory of 19th century heritage buildings in North America.  Heritage Tourism is a billion-dollar, world wide industry with a growth rate of 10% annually and Heritage architecture is the #1 reason why visitors come to Saint John. They want to experience the real thing not a Disney Land look-alike.

Heritage Development also speaks to environmental sustainability because it discourages demolition and construction, thereby reducing dust noise and debris and its contribution at the landfill.

As a community our focus has been on growth. To first attract and then retain people.  People want to have a sense of place. There has to be something that sets a city apart.  Our Heritage Architecture is one of our most valuable tools in establishing our “sense of place.

Arts and Culture: Common Council has demonstrated its on-going commitment to the Arts by unanimously accepting the city’s first Arts and Culture policy as put forth by the Saint John Community Arts Board.

This is important because, globally, the cities that have seen the most growth in recent years have invested heavily in sense of place and quality of life. 

We live in a world full of possibility. Citizen’s now make conscious and informed decisions as to where they will create a life; we no longer feel compelled to simply settle where our parents did. The world is a playground and, as a municipality, we are competing for their futures.

To ensure long-term economic and social growth for our community we must provide a quality of life beyond the traditional 3 “P’ style of city:  police, pavement and potholes. We also need to include: People, Passion, and Participation.

When we travel, we are moved by the culture, architecture, art and the preserved history of the community. Our memories are filled with the “essence” of that community.

Historic preservation, art and cultural tourism, civic engagement and art and culture related events such as festivals or holiday celebrations all play an integral part in economic revitalization and in community development.