The Township of Emo has found a candidate to fill an empty council seat after 26-year-old Anthony Gill-Roisin threw his hat in the ring last week.
With only four individuals having stepped forward for the five spots for mayor and council by the end of the nomination period on Aug. 21, the township had no choice but to extend its deadline, reopening it on Aug. 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In that five-hour timeframe, Gill-Roisin was the only person to file. With no contest, he was acclaimed into the vacant council seat along with the other confirmed council members, all returning incumbents: Mayor Harold McQuaker and Councillors Lisa Teeple, Phil Whatley and Gerald Wieringa.
“I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of getting involved with this, and I saw the opportunity available, so I figured there was no better way to start than by jumping headfirst into it,” Gill-Roisin told The Times. “Being younger, I’m hoping to perhaps be able to provide some perspective. [Mayor] McQuaker had mentioned that he wanted some younger blood involved, so that was another thing that enticed me towards it.”
Gill-Roisin said he also hopes to spark some initiative amongst other younger members of the community.
“I was thinking that by doing this, it could also encourage other younger people to get involved in the future. Not necessarily as mayor and council, but maybe even just working with local committees.”
During his day-to-day, Gill-Roisin works as a correctional officer at the Fort Frances Jail, a job that he said will not impede his work on council.
“We do shift work, so it actually works in my favour,” Gill-Roisin said. “The Emo council, they meet regularly twice per month, plus special council and committee meetings. Ideally, with my shifts being four on, four off, I should be able to plan ahead and attend.”
McQuaker said he looks forward to seeing a younger person in the community getting involved with Emo’s local politics. “I think it’s wonderful, I think he’ll make a good councillor,” he said.
Gill-Roisin will take his seat on Emo’s council on Nov. 15, the province-wide start date of new municipal council terms.
