by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION — It was a night of accolades, recognition and even a standing ovation during the final Whitewater Region council meeting with Mayor Hal Johnson at the helm.
His term comes to an end on Nov. 30, as he was defeated by incoming mayor Mike Moore in the October municipal election.
Taking to the centre of the council chambers, Mayor Johnson called Terry Kenny to be by his side.
“You have given quite a bit over the years to this community and to the part you live in in Westmeath,” Mayor Johnson said.
This council believes in recognizing the work done by volunteers, he said. Mayor Johnson then presented a Certificate of Recognition to Terry and his wife Charlene (who couldn’t attend the meeting), owners of Rondeau Electric, for installing the new lights inside the Westmeath Arena.
“We are forever in your debt,” Mayor Johnson said. “They were most needed. I’m excited to see how much they have improved the arena.”
The next three people to receive recognition from Mayor Johnson were all staff, for their recent educational accomplishments.
He noted Robert Tremblay, the current chief administrative officer, recently graduated in Master of Public Administration.
“The Township of Whitewater Region is going to benefit from this enormous achievement and we never paid a cent towards it,” the mayor noted.
It was something Mr. Tremblay wanted to accomplish, which he told the hiring committee, two years ago when he was being interviewed, Mayor Johnson recalled.
“This is quite an achievement,” he said.
The Certificate of Recognition is for Mr. Tremblay’s dedication, enthusiasm, hard work and professional accomplishment, Mayor Johnson stated.
He then invited Mr. Tremblay’s spouse to the centre of the council chambers, saying, “Family, in our organization, and in Whitewater Region, is key. That’s why we’re all here, and that’s why we all do what we do.”
Marsha Hawthorne was next.
“I want to call a lady who, when times were tough, helped the mayor out extraordinarily and needs to be thanked,” Mayor Johnson said. “She has walked through quite a journey in her life. She’s strong, she’s amazing, and she also has worked hard to get a diploma.”
Ms. Hawthorne was recognized by the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario for earning a diploma in Municipal Administration.
Mayor Johnson noted that prior to Mr. Tremblay being hired, and during the time between senior leaders, Ms. Hawthorne “took the bull by the horns and was the senior leader and was of great assistance to me, the mayor, and I will never forget how much she meant to me for all those things.”
Ms. Hawthorne thanked Mayor Johnson on behalf of the staff.
“You have been a hugely, tremendous asset to the township,” she said. “You taught us a lot and you will be missed.”
And finally, Mayor Johnson asked Carmen Miller to come to the middle of the chambers.
“Some people are very shy in this world and they don’t like to be recognized, but sometimes you have to do it,” he said.
Chuckling, Mayor Johnson recalled when he recently went into Ms. Miller’s office, only to find a diploma she recently earned, sitting inside a plastic, page protector.
“We got you a frame,” he said, as laughter rang out in the chambers. “You need to show respect and the honour is ours for your achievements,” Mayor Johnson said.
He noted Ms. Miller also received a diploma in Municipal Administration from the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario.
“Thank you for your hard work,” he said.
Mayor Johnson also acknowledged all the municipal staff, saying, “…to all of them I say thanks.”
He noted there have been many staff changes in four years, and most of them were good changes, with people moving on with the opportunity to improve their careers.
“That’s key, to let people move to improve their careers,” he said.
Before the mayor could sit down, Councillor Chris Olmstead took to the council chambers, microphone in hand, and asked him to remain.
“We want to thank you for your service the past four years,” Coun. Olmstead said. “You have been the cornerstone and a real driver for the township the last four years.”
Travelling with him to various conventions and meetings, he noted Mayor Johnson never stopped talking about Whitewater Region.
“I’ve witnessed it first hand,” he said. “Breakfast is at 7:30 and he was on, having breakfast with others, and Hal was selling the township, at breakfast, break, lunch, and just before bed.
“I was exhausted and he was still going,” Coun. Olmstead said, adding, “I’ve never seen a man work harder at a job, municipal or a private firm job.”
When driving by the township office at 8 a.m. or even at 5 p.m., many times the mayor’s vehicle was there as he was busy in the office.
“For this man’s dedication and love for the township, we want to thank him,” Coun. Olmstead said, adding, “You will be sorely missed.”
Following a standing ovation from the crowded council chambers, Coun. Olmstead presented Mayor Johnson with a scenic photo on canvass that was taken in the township. He also had one to present to Reeve Terry Millar, but he did not attend his final council meeting.
Mayor Johnson said, he went to quite a few conventions, including Good Roads, ROMA and AMO, and each time met with ministers.
“Every time we got back, we received very, very encouraging letters and this is because the people who accompanied me…were well read, well received and very professional,” the mayor said.
He noted he and Coun. Olmstead became close friends.
“At those conventions, we made a case for Whitewater Region, and because we made a case for Whitewater Region, we got the respect from all the people on this council,” he said.
In the past four years, this council has brought the township’s status high in the eyes of many people.
“It takes a lot to come, from my feeling four years ago, we were the laughing stock of Renfrew County to where we are now, the envy of Renfrew County,” Mayor Johnson said.
Throughout the reports from various managers during the meeting, the accolades continued.
Chief Building Official Doug Schultz recalled the mayor telling him, “Doug, I don’t want you to say why people can’t move here, I want you to make people get here,” and that’s exactly what happened.
This council has been instrumental in bringing economic development to this township, Mr. Schultz said.
Mayor Johnson said council appreciates all the good work by Mr. Schultz. As an example, he noted the township no longer owns property in the Whitewater Industrial Park, because of the hard work of Mr. Schultz. There weren’t many lots sold in more than 30 years, and in two years, he was able to go about getting all of the lots sold, he explained.
“That’s a great achievement,” the mayor said.
He also thanked community services manager Jordan Durocher, who has “been amazing” and fire chief Jonathan Wilker, for “doing a great job, and a needed job, in our township.”
Steve Hodson, supervisor of solid waste and safety for the township, said the mayor, who was an employee 14 years ago, was a tremendous help when he was trying to develop a brand new department.
There has been a lot of work accomplished and a lot of laughs, Mr. Hodson said, with the mayor agreeing.
“As you go through the journey, it has been quite exciting, and you are still on the journey,” Mayor Johnson said. “You have a long way to go, a lot of work to do and you will do it well.”
He also complimented physical services manager Janet Collins.
“You did an awesome job this summer,” he said. “We did more this summer, and more in the last two years, than this township accomplished in the last eight years.”
The final accolades came from CAO Tremblay.
“We wish you a great retirement and keep yourself busy,” he said. “Enjoy all the wonderful things, you as leader for this council, have accomplished over your term and your municipal career.
“Being a municipal professional is not easy. People think it’s a dream job. Yes, it has its perks, but it can be difficult as well,” CAO Tremblay said.
Ending the meeting, Mayor Johnson had the final say.
“This has been quite a ride for four years,” he said. “When you have a family that’s growing up and you get to the point where you look at them over Christmas dinner and say to yourself, my God, they are the greatest and they will do great things in the future.
“This council of 2019 to 2023, you guys have major decisions to make and I’m confident you have the tools and you can be proud going forward
“We have a township as no other township at this point,” Mayor Johnson said, adding proudly, “We are the envy of Renfrew County, yes we are. It’s onward and upward we go.”
