ST. JOHN’S – Residents of a small but busy community in eastern Newfoundland reelected its all-women council this week with a 99 per cent voter turnout.
Kelly Power, the re-elected mayor of Branch, N.L. said just four of the town’s 165 eligible voters didn’t cast a ballot, because they were away or out fishing.
Eight people ran for a total of five council spots in Thursday’s election, and all the candidates were women.
Power was first elected in 2013 alongside four other women, and the council has been made up of women ever since.
The mayor says she and the council work hard to ensure it’s nearly impossible to be lonely in Branch.
They plan constant activities, from community dances to bouncy castle parties for the school’s 16 students.
She says the community centre is full most nights for sewing, bingo and darts.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2025.
