John R. Wilson

Yrs. on County Council:  22
Municipality:    Township of Malahide
Office:  Mayor

Councillor Wilson's family is no stranger to public service in the County of Elgin.  Councillor Wilson has the distinction of being the 4th consecutive generation to serve on County Council, a claim that one would be hard-pressed to match anywhere else in the province.  His great grandfather, John H. Wilson, served on County Council from 1893 to 1896 as both Deputy Reeve and Reeve of South Dorchester.  His grandfather, Silas R. Wilson, served on County Council as Reeve of South Dorchester in 1911 and 1912.  His father, John B. Wilson, served on County Council as Reeve of South Dorchester from 1953 to 1981, including as Warden in 1958.  Councillor Wilson has himself served on County Council since 1989, first as Deputy Reeve and then Reeve of South Dorchester and, after the amalgamations of 1998, as Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Malahide in which capacity he continues to serve to this day.  Councillor Wilson was Elgin County Warden for the years 2002 and 2003.

Councillor Wilson and his wife Doreen have been married 42 years. Their family includes son Johnny and wife April and their son Liam; son Matt and wife Liz and their daughter Scarlet; and daughter Heather.

The early part of Councillor Wilson's career was spent in the Food Services industry, working for General Foods in the 1960's and Kelloggs until 1977.  In 1977, he joined his father in J.B. Wilson & Son Well Drilling Ltd, which he still operates to this day.

Councillor Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Honours) from the University of Guelph, majoring in Microbiology.

In addition to serving the Township of Malahide and as a County Council representative on the Elgin St. Thomas Public Health Board and the Rural Initiatives Committee; he is an executive member of South Central Ontario Region economic development committee; and he serves on the steering committee of the federal Sand Plains Development program.  Councillor Wilson is a member of a number of organizations:

Member, steering committee for County of Elgin Official Plan
County representative, Dexter Line erosion working committee.
Member of Malahide 140 Masonic Lodge
Member of Mocha Temple, London – a 32° Mason
Charter Member of Aylmer Shrine Club
Past President of Ontario Ground Water Association
Past President of the Canadian Ground Water Association
Past Chairman of the Board of Governors, St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital
Past Director of the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation
Past Chairman of the Elgin St. Thomas Board of Health/Public Health (Chair 2001 & 2009)
Charter Member and former Firefighter for South Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department 
Chairman of the Water Committee of the International Plowing Match (1985)
Former member of the Thames Valley District Health Council
Member of the Board of the East Elgin Community Complex (Chair 2007 & 2009)
Past Member of the Board of VON Middlesex-Elgin Branch
Member of Colonel Talbot Branch 81 Royal Canadian Legion, Aylmer
Member of Thames Valley District School Board Capital Planning Advisory Committee
      And, a founding member of the Communities Schools Alliance Executive Committee.

Councillor Wilson may be left a message by calling 519-773-5344.