Elgin County Council Elects Mary French as 2022 Warden
Central Elgin, ON – Councillor Mary French, Mayor of the Town of Aylmer, was elected Elgin County Warden for 2022 at a meeting held on December 7, 2021.
French was selected in her bid for the one-year position over Tom Marks, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Central Elgin and Robert (Bob) Purcell, Mayor of the Municipality of Dutton Dunwich. This will be French’s first term as Elgin County Warden.
Immediate past Warden Tom Marks, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Central Elgin, will serve as 2022 Deputy Warden. After a productive and successful term as Warden in 2021 Marks congratulated French and handed over the Chain of Office, Gavel and Lord Elgin Watch – important symbols of the Office of the Elgin County Warden.
In her inaugural address, French spoke of the importance of Council, staff, and the community working together as a team. She expressed her excitement to continue the great work done by 2019 Warden Duncan McPhail, 2020 Warden Dave Mennill and 2021 Warden Tom Marks. She looks forward to enhancements to economic development, the continuation of the Terrace Lodge Redevelopment Project, and advancing the discussion around housing and homelessness issues in rural communities.
“I would like to thank my fellow Councillors for their support,” said French. “It is humbling to be elected to this important office. Together we will do great things for our community this year.”
“On behalf of all County staff, I extend my sincere congratulations to Warden French”, says Chief Administrative Officer Julie Gonyou. “We look forward to working with her in the year ahead”.
French lives with her husband Steve in the Town of Aylmer. She is a long-time member of the Town of Aylmer Council, first serving as a Councillor and Deputy Mayor and being elected as Mayor in 2018. It is her first term on Elgin County Council. Warden French is currently a member of the Terrace Lodge Redevelopment Steering Committee, the Budget Committee and the Community Safety and Well-Being Coordinating Committee.
As Warden, French will take on the role of Chair of the Budget Committee and will join the Environmental Advisory Committee, the Connectivity Committee and the Rural Initiatives and Planning Advisory Committee. She will sit on a number of boards, represent Elgin on the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC), and represent the County at community events and in meetings with the provincial and federal governments.
The first County Council meeting chaired by Warden French will be held on Thursday December 9th, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
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For additional information, please contact:
Katherine Thompson
Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk
kthompson@elgin.ca
