As I reflect on my past eight years as a Councillor, I can’t help but be thankful for the great mentors I had in my first term; both at the Council table and in Administration. My second term of Council was a challenge in many ways. First of all, we saw the retirement of some of our senior members of Administration as well as several other staff changes. Another challenge, which affected the whole world of course, was the pandemic. With the help of our IT Team and changes to the Municipal Act, we were able to begin conducting our meetings in a virtual environment. Other challenges included the drought of 2021 and the flood of 2022. As a municipality, we need to be prepared for future disruptions of this kind.
I think the next four years will be a very exciting time for our community. As we transition from a post-paper mill town the opportunities are “boundless”! I’m very excited about having our own full-time manager of Economic Sustainability who will focus solely on the needs of our community.
Council will also be busy working with consultants and Administration to review several important municipal documents including the Official Plan, the Zoning By-Law, the Community Improvement Plan, as well as a full Governance Review. Each of these documents will provide opportunities to improve the ways in which we attract investors and developers as well as how we operate as a Council.
Fort Frances is in a unique position to mold its future. My vision is for a cleaner, greener economy that will create jobs and stabilize our tax base; A community that is welcoming and vibrant, where our families can live, work and play for many generations to come. I look forward to once again serving you on Council.
