Soraya Martinez Ferrada, photographed on October 17, 2025, is set to take on her new role as the mayor of Montreal, marking a historic moment for the city’s leadership. The Canadian Press
Montreal has a new mayor for the first time in eight years. Soraya Martinez Ferrada, leader of Ensemble Montréal, officially takes the city’s top job after a decisive win. Her victory marks a historic moment — she is the first person of Latin American heritage to lead Montreal.
Born in Santiago, Chile, in 1972, Martinez Ferrada came to Canada as a child after her family fled the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. She arrived in Quebec at the age of eight and quickly began adapting to her new home.
She once shared that her earliest memory of Chile was being forced to sing the changed national anthem under military rule. In Montreal, she and her family joined French-language welcome classes, which helped them begin their new life.
From Community Work to City Politics
Martinez Ferrada started her career in Montreal’s cultural sector. Between 2002 and 2005, she worked at TOHU, an arts venue in the city’s east end, where she launched its first cultural and job training program. She returned to TOHU in 2014 as director of partnerships and philanthropy.
In 2005, she won a city council seat for the Saint-Michel district and soon joined the executive committee. During her time on council, she played a key role in transforming the Miron quarry into Frédéric-Back Park and oversaw efforts to move electrical wires underground along Jarry Street.
In 2007, she left former mayor Gérald Tremblay’s Union Montréal party, saying she disagreed with his leadership. She later became chief of staff to Louise Harel, who led the official opposition at city hall.
A Journey Through Federal Politics
Her political career expanded nationally in 2015 when she helped plan Mélanie Joly’s successful federal campaign. She then served as Joly’s senior adviser while Joly was heritage minister.
In 2019, Martinez Ferrada made her own leap to Ottawa, becoming the first Liberal MP to win the Hochelaga riding in 35 years. She served in several key roles, including parliamentary secretary for housing and transport.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later appointed her as minister of tourism and minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency for Quebec’s regions.
She has often credited Pablo Rodriguez, now leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, as her political mentor. Following his path, she stepped down from federal politics in February 2025 and soon announced her bid to lead Ensemble Montréal. Running unopposed, she won the leadership by acclamation.
Returning to City Hall
Martinez Ferrada’s election brings her back to the level of government where she began her career. She campaigned on improving housing affordability, reducing homelessness, and fixing Montreal’s traffic and construction problems.
She also promised to strengthen cooperation between the city, Quebec, and Ottawa. “You have to sit down with all levels of government and the private sector,” she said. “We have to bring people together. We can’t be pointing the finger.”
While critics questioned her stance on bike paths after she proposed a temporary pause to review them, she maintained that her goal is to improve planning and coordination.
With her win, Soraya Martinez Ferrada opens a new chapter in Montreal’s history — one shaped by her immigrant story, political experience, and commitment to building a more connected and inclusive city.
