A community activist and volunteer will be the next city councillor for Elmwood-East Kildonan.

Emma Durand-Wood soundly won a byelection to claim the seat on Saturday, with 1,567 votes, or 31.48 per cent of those cast, according to results posted on the City of Winnipeg’s website. The runner-up, construction project manager Abel Gutierrez, received 887 votes.

“This has just been the absolute craziest experience of my life. I want to thank all the over 100 people who volunteered for our campaign, including the 50 people who helped out today,” Durand-Wood told a crowd of several dozen cheering supporters at the Elmwood Curling Club Saturday night.

The council seat was left vacant after the death of Coun. Jason Schreyer in April.

Durand-Wood, 44, entered her first political race after vol

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