Brent Calder has been elected to stand as the next mayor of Fort Frances.
In an unofficial reading of voting results shortly after polls closed on Monday, Oct. 26, Calder was revealed to have been voted the mayor-elect, beating out challenger and former councillor John McTaggart. Calder was recorded as having 1,561 votes to McTaggart’s 1,200.
“Obviously the residents in Fort Frances wanted a change, and I promised these people that what’s happened the last four years is there’s been some inaction on some of the stuff there, and the residents of Fort Frances elect a council and a mayor to make sure that they’re taking care of the business,” Calder told The Times at a gathering of supporters at his Scott Street election office.
“That’s what I promised all my supporters: that we’re going to go to work. And I’m even going to work for the people that didn’t vote for me. We’re going to do just like we promised: economic development. We’re going to do that. We’re going to build some houses. And I want to make sure that we have a chance of retaining younger people in the town of Fort Frances.”
Calder, who is a member of Naicatchewenin First Nation, said he has already talked to local chiefs and promised to help the town be a better neighbour to Indigenous communities in the district. “My challenge is going to be to be a good neighbour to them, so they can actually invest in the Town of Fort Frances.”
Calder also said he wants to ensure transparency in municipal government.
“I want to make sure that the residents, the people that are the taxpayers, know how we’re spending their money and when we’re spending their money.”
McTaggart said he was disappointed, “but the electorate is right. I stand by the decision of a democracy, and I wish Mr. Calder and the new council every success for our community. I thank Mr. Calder for putting his name forward, and I wish him all the best.”
McTaggart, who served two consecutive four-year terms from 2018 to 2026 as a councillor, thanked his family and supporters as well as all of the candidates who stepped forward this election.
“I’m really pleased for everyone who let their name stand. I think it was outstanding that we had as many people running as we did.”
The rest of Fort Frances’ sitting council will have three new faces joining three incumbent councillors. Incumbents Mike Behan, Kaleb Firth and Bill Morrison will continue to serve on council into the next term, while newcomers Anthony Andrusco, Gary Cousineau and Kathy McKenzie will join them as new councillors. Incumbent councillor Steven Maki did not receive enough votes to continue sitting on council, and aspirants Doug Brown and Nathan Galusha were also defeated at the polls.
Unofficial results as of Monday, Oct. 26:
Mayor
*Brent Calder – 1,561
John McTaggart – 1,200
Councillor
*Bill Morrison – 2,230
*Kathy McKenzie – 1,854
*Anthony Andrusco – 1,677
*Mike Behan – 1,305
*Kaleb Firth – 1,294
*Gary Cousineau – 1,283
Doug Brown – 1,207
Steven Maki – 1,107
Nathan Galusha – 754
