The city of Montreal has elected its first woman mayor, voting in leftist rookie politician Valerie Plante to lead the growing Canadian metropolis.
"Tonight we have written a new page in Montreal´s history books," the jubilant 43-year-old told cheering supporters. "Montreal finally has its first mayoress."
She upset her main opponent Denis Coderre by outperforming the incumbent by six points in Sunday´s election, taking more than 51 percent of the vote.
In his concession speech, Coderre, a veteran former Liberal parliament member and cabinet minister, congratulated Plante and announced he was leaving "municipal politics" -- leaving the door open to other elected posts.
Plante, of the left-leaning "Projet Montreal" municipal party, won voters over on a platform vowing improved public transit and public services as well as affordable housing.
"Congratulations Valerie Plante, first-ever woman elected mayor of Montreal," tweeted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when the results came in.