Bishop Steps Down

Councillor Ray Bishop announced his decision on a Monday morning in December, at a short press conference in the lobby of City Hall, under a Christmas tree decorated with paper snowflakes made by a grade two class.

He was fifty-nine. He had served three terms. He said he was proud of the ward, proud of the new housing on the Riverbend site, proud of "a community space that the community fought for, and won." He said it was time to step down and make room for someone new. He said he would finish his term with the same energy as the first day.

Then a reporter asked him what he planned to do after the election in October.

Bishop smiled, the tired smile that Hannah knew better than anyone.

"I'm going to learn a fourth chord," he said. "I've been stuck on three since 1983."

Most of the reporters didn't understand. Hannah, standing at the side of the lobby with her tablet, did. She had to look at the Christmas tree for a while.