Maureen “Moe” Comuzzi spent election night surrounded by family, friends and longtime supporters. By morning, she had become Thunder Bay’s mayor-elect, capturing 8,888 votes, making history as the city’s third female mayor, and inheriting the responsibility of helping guide a city at a pivotal moment in its history.

When I sat down with Mayor-elect Comuzzi on Country 105 the morning after her victory, there was little evidence of the whirlwind she had just experienced.

There was excitement, certainly. Gratitude too.

But what stood out most was the calm.

Less than 12 hours after winning one of the most closely watched municipal races in recent memory, Comuzzi wasn’t talking about campaign strategy, vote margins or political opponents. Instead, she repeatedly returned to the people who helped shape her journey and the community she now hopes to serve.

“I am truly honored to be Thunder Bay’s next mayor,” she told me. “Thank you all for going out and voting for us and turning the page. We are stronger together & we have a bright future ahead.”

The phrase surfaced often during our conversation: stronger together.

For Comuzzi, it is not simply a slogan. It is a mindset.

And after months of campaigning across the city, it is a message that appears to have resonated with voters.

A Mandate for Connection

The 2026 municipal election unfolded against a backdrop of growing concerns about housing, homelessness, addictions, public safety and economic uncertainty. Voters had no shortage of choices, with ten candidates competing for the city’s highest office.

Yet Comuzzi’s campaign stood apart for its emphasis on relationships.

Her Smart Growth Action Plan laid out priorities and proposals, but listening to her speak the morning after the election, it became clear that policy alone was never the centerpiece of her pitch.

Presence was.

“My door will be open,” she said. “I want to be the mayor for the people and be present.”

As she spoke, it became evident that she views City Hall not as the centre of decision-making, but as an extension of the community itself.

Again and again, she returned to the idea that leadership begins by listening.

The Number Everyone Was Talking About

Election results are usually remembered for what they determine.

This one may also be remembered for a number.

8,888.

It was Comuzzi’s final vote total and one that quickly became a topic of conversation throughout the city.

What might have seemed like a curious coincidence carried a deeper meaning for her.

“It was October 26, 2026, the number was 8,888, and it was a full moon,” she said, smiling as she reflected on the night. “My family was watching over us from above.”

The room where she celebrated was filled with supporters, longtime friends and family members who had stood beside her throughout the campaign.

“It was a room full of people that have been there with me always,” she said. “In business and in my personal life. Everybody was excited, and I was very honored they showed up. It meant the world.”

The comments offered a glimpse into the personal side of a public figure many Thunder Bay residents have known for years through business, volunteer work and community involvement.

The Story Behind the Victory

The most revealing moment of our conversation came when Comuzzi spoke not about the election itself, but about her mother.

Decades ago, tragedy altered the course of her family.

In 1983, her father was killed in a collision on Highway 17.

The loss left her mother to raise the family alone.

“My mom put two teenagers through school,” Comuzzi recalled. “She was the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”

Then came the detail that suddenly reframed election night.

“She always wanted to be mayor.”

In a matter of seconds, a political victory became something far more personal.

A daughter was carrying forward a dream her mother never had the chance to pursue herself.

“This one’s for my mom,” she said.

For all the discussion surrounding votes, policies and governance, it was perhaps the most authentic moment of the interview.

Not because it was political.

Because it wasn’t.

Built on a Lifetime of Relationships

Comuzzi spoke repeatedly about timing.

“Everything’s kind of led me down this path,” she said. “It’s the right time. I’m at the right age. I know three generations in the community and it’s my time to give back.”

There is something distinctly Thunder Bay about that sentiment.

Unlike leaders who arrive from elsewhere, Comuzzi’s story is inseparable from the city’s own story.

Her relationships have been built over decades.

She knows business owners, community advocates, young families, retirees and the generations in between.

Listening to her speak, one gets the sense that she does not see herself as stepping into a position of authority as much as stepping into a position of stewardship.

Looking Forward Together

One of the more notable moments in our conversation came when Comuzzi spoke about collaboration.

She praised the newly elected council and thanked those who were unsuccessful in their campaigns.

She spoke positively about working alongside Thunder Bay Police Chief Darcy Fleury, whom she described as someone helping guide the city through complex challenges.

She also offered praise and gratitude to outgoing Mayor Ken Boshcoff.

“I admire him,” she said. “Thank you for your service and your mentoring of me.”

The gesture reflected a recurring theme throughout the interview: respect.

Respect for those who came before.

Respect for differing perspectives.

And respect for the responsibility voters have now entrusted to her.

The Mayor Next Door

Near the end of our conversation, I asked how she plans to decompress once the realities of governing begin to set in.

The answer had nothing to do with politics.

Instead, she talked about her two dogs and the walks that bring her through neighbourhoods across the city.

A 95-pound Bernedoodle.

A 15-pound miniature dachshund.

“We walk a lot,” she laughed. “People stop and talk, and I hope more people will stop and say good morning and let’s have a chat.”

The comment may seem small, but it captures something essential about how Comuzzi views leadership.

Not from behind a desk.

Not from a podium.

But through conversation.

A New Chapter

Thunder Bay’s challenges will not disappear with an election.

Housing pressures remain.

The homelessness crisis remains.

Questions about economic growth, public safety and healthcare access remain.

Soon enough, the celebrations will give way to budgets, council meetings and difficult decisions.

But on the morning after the election, that wasn’t what stood out.

What stood out was a mayor-elect who spoke more about people than politics.

More about community than government.

More about responsibility than victory.

And perhaps that is why her message connected with voters in the first place.

With 8,888 votes behind her and a promise to keep her door open, Thunder Bay’s third female mayor now begins the work of writing the city’s next chapter.

Listen to the full interview with Moe and Dee here.