Morden's mayor resigns after 5 years, named to Wab Kinew's transition advisory team

A southern Manitoba mayor, praised for his "visionary approach" and progressive views, has resigned after five years at the helm.

Brandon Burley announced his suddenresignation on Thursday, the City of Morden said in a news release on its website and social media pages.

On Friday morning, Burley was named one of 11 people on Manitoba premier-designate Wab Kinew's transition advisory team.

The team will provide advice and assistance to Kinew during the transition period.

Burley, who was first elected mayor in 2018 and re-elected through acclamation in October 2022, said in the City of Morden news releasethat his resignationcame after personal reflection.

"I have come to recognize the significant responsibility I have towards my family's own transformational growth years," he was quoted as saying.

His departurebrings an end to a transformative era and progress for the city, the release says.

"Under Mayor Burley's leadership, Morden has experienced unprecedented transformation and significant growth, emerging as a beacon of progress in the region. His unwavering commitment to the city and his visionary approach have played a pivotal role in shaping Morden's future," it says.

Burley led the call in 2020 for Morden's senior hockey club to change its name, which was disrespectful toward First Nations people. Hesaid it was eroding Morden's reputation as an accepting community andoffered to personally cover the cost of rebrandingthe team.

The team had resisted a call for change a few years earlier, but three months after Burley began pressing the matter,the team adopted a new name.

And during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Burley spoke out against people who refused to get vaccinated, calling them selfish.

Morden's vaccination uptake was high but its neighbouringcommunities had some of the strongestanti-vaccine sentiments, and lowest uptakes, in the province.

The resignation is immediate. Burley, in the news release, said he entrusts the future of the city into the capable hands of council, confident in their ability to lead Morden forward.

The city said it is planning abyelectionto fill the vacancy and will release more details "in due course."