Election Notes From Around The Province

Last week I asked for notes from members around the Province regarding the elections. Here are a few of the highlights: (two from St. Thomas)

In Mississauga, MHC member Jim Tovey was elected Ward One Councillor (Port Credit). I'm sure a few of you will know him from the conferences.
Eric Rogers

In St. Thomas, the anti-heritage mayor was defeated by a 34 year old member of the municipal heritage committee. She is one of those who fought the demolition order for Alma College as an alderman, so will be in a better position now to champion our cause.
Nancy Mayberry

In St. Thomas, alderman Heather Jackson-Chapman was elected mayor, defeating Cliff Barwick. Heather has been the council representative on the municipal heritage committee and chair of Doors Open St. Thomas for the past two years. Heather personally gave tours of St. Thomas City Hall during Doors Open and steered the Doors Open budget through the council approval process.
Laurence Grant

London has a new mayor, Joe Fontana, one-time Liberal MPP and once a member of City Council.   He ran on a platform of no tax increase for the next four years and development to provide an increase in tax revenue.   Four of the five councillors who have consistently supported heritage issues were re-elected but they will have a tough time getting anything related to heritage preservation (if it costs more than a penny) through the new City Council.
Julia Beck

I am not sure what Jeff Lehman's win as mayor of Barrie will mean to heritage there, but I can fairly confidently say that with Barb Baguley as the new mayor of Innisfil, things should look up considerably on the heritage front.  She is (was) a member of the Heritage Committee and was the only one to push things forward in spite of a resisitant and reluctant committee and Council.

The old Council with its single-minded focus on development and jobs - the one that was responsible for the destruction of two marvellous stone heritage farmhouses - has largely been consigned to the rubbish heap.  Only three old members remain and they are mostly all pro heritage.
David Steele

Comments

[catherine nasmith]

And some positive change in Muskoka too....the pattern is clear. Once an ACO branch starts up, the political situation starts to shift. There is nothing like hearing a positive message about heritage preservation from your neighbours.

[MBT outlet]

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