Quispamsis Mayor Libby O’Hara stepped down on Monday, May 26, 2026, after a 15-year career in local politics, as the newly elected town council was sworn in at a ceremony in the southern New Brunswick community. O’Hara, who served as deputy mayor before being elected mayor in 2021, used her farewell address to thank residents for their support and to reflect on the town’s achievements during her tenure.
“Fifteen years ago, I stepped into municipal politics because I believed in this community,” O’Hara said in a statement published on the Town of Quispamsis website. She emphasized that Quispamsis’s success comes from residents’ patience, generosity, and willingness to work together.
Under O’Hara’s leadership, the town saw significant growth and infrastructure investments, including upgrades to recreation facilities, expanded trail networks, and the development of the Arts and Culture Park. She also guided the municipality through housing pressures and transportation challenges during a period of regional growth in the Kennebecasis Valley.
Quispamsis gained national attention in 2026 when it was ranked the most livable community in Atlantic Canada by The Globe and Mail, placing eighth overall in the country. The 2026 Canada’s Most Livable Cities rankings assessed 454 communities and placed no other community in Atlantic Canada in the top 30. The recognition followed an earlier honour in 2017, when MoneySense magazine named the town the best place to live in Atlantic Canada.
The new mayor, Mary Schryer, was acclaimed in the May 11, 2026 municipal election. Schryer is a former provincial cabinet minister who previously served as Deputy Mayor and councillor in Quispamsis from 1999 to 2006. She now leads an eight-member council made up of one mayor and seven councillors elected at large.
O’Hara expressed confidence in the town’s future under its new leadership. “I am so proud of what we have accomplished together, and I know this community will continue to thrive,” she said. The swearing-in ceremony marks a new chapter for Quispamsis, a town of about 18,700 people that has become known for its quality of life and strong community spirit.
