by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Don Rathwell is one of the most experienced municipal council members to depart from Whitewater Region Township.
He began his municipal political career in 1982 as a councillor for the former Ross Township. He ended it as the first reeve for Whitewater Region Township. He was a councillor until he became reeve of Whitewater Region Township in 2004. In 2007, he was acclaimed Mayor for Whitewater Region Township and then in 2010 he was elected reeve. In the 2014 municipal election, he was defeated by businessman Terry Millar for the reeve’s position in Whitewater Region Township.
Looking back to 1982, Reeve Rathwell said his children were grown, and through their growing up years, he coached ball and hockey. In 1982, he decided to get onto council to see if he could do something for the youth in Ross Township.
Over the next 32 years, Reeve Rathwell participated in many elections, because when he started out, it was for two year terms, then three year and now four year terms.
He enjoyed the reeve’s position because not only was he involved in what happened at the local council, but also at the county level.
“County council is the place where you make things happen,” he said.
However, he does admit, he’s not sure if a two tier government is necessary anymore.
As a member of a municipal council, Reeve Rathwell had a direct relationship with many provincial ministers. However, it wasn’t until he was a county councillor, with the warden by his side, that he realized that ministers would listen to what he had to say.
And he was the warden for 2009 and 2010. One of the big issues during his tenure was the possibility of the research facility at AECL moving to another province. The Eastern Wardens Caucus, of which he was a member, made a presentation to the provincial ministers about the importance of that facility to Renfrew County, as it employed close to 3,000 Renfrew County residents, he said.
“That was the start of us getting involved in AECL, he recalled. “That continues today, as the county is kept informed of what’s happening at ACEL.”
Another issue of great importance is the taxation for Crown land, Reeve Rathwell said. A presentation was made to Toronto, and while no movement has been made in that direction, it’s still on the table for discussion, he said.
Reeve Rathwell worked hard to get an ambulance station in Cobden or the area, but that didn’t happen. But, he was able to get an ambulance stationed in the Cobden area from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day. As well, there is an office for paramedics to work out of in the municipal hall, he added.
“I’m very pleased with that,” he said. “We have partial coverage at least.”
Prior to this, it could take upwards of 40 minutes for an ambulance to reach LaPasse or Westmeath when required, he said.
“That was a concern for me, that wasn’t acceptable to me,” he said. “It’s a concern for me when someone takes a heart attack and it takes 40 minutes for an ambulance. The provincial standard is 19 minutes or less.”
The Canadian Pacific rail line is no longer useable for trains, but Reeve Rathwell believes, as do other reeves in the county, that it can be established as a recreational trail throughout the county.
While at county council, Reeve Rathwell spent all of his 10 years on the finance committee. However, while sitting on that committee, others he sat or chaired on include social services, public works, health and development and property.
He admitted, when he began campaigning for the 2014 municipal election, he felt confident. However, with two weeks left to go, hope of another win was fading.
“The winds of change were coming through our township as well,” he said. “Nobody has been happy since the provincial election.”
In Renfrew County, there are only five returning reeves out of 17 municipalities, Reeve Rathwell said.
“It’ll be interesting to see how the new council deals with the provincial government,” he said. “They’ll find it won’t be as easy as they think it is to get the provincial government to change their way of doing things.”
However, don’t expect to see Reeve Rathwell sitting in the rocking chair just yet.
“There’s that expression, one door closes another opens,” he said.
He spent 47 years at Timminco Mine before walking way and he picked up more responsibility on council. Now, he will have to find more responsibility elsewhere.
“I’ll do something,” he said. “I have no plans right now, but I have no plans to sit in a chair and do nothing.”
Reeve Rathwell said he has no complaints from the past 32 years.
“I was used well by the people,” he said. “I was on council for 32 consecutive years. I can’t complain losing one election.
“I’m not going to be changed by this. It was time for a change. Maybe in four years time I’ll run again. I’ll make the decision when the time comes. That’s quite a ways away and I’m still in good health.”
Last year Reeve Rathwell took a week and went south. This year, he said with a laugh, maybe he’ll spend two weeks down south.
“You know Connie, I think for the next few months I’ll just relax. I’ve farmed, worked at the mine and spent time on council. I have never stopped in my life. I’m going to stop and smell the roses, as my kids have been telling me to do.
“In the spring, I’ll be refreshed and rejuvenated and hang out a shingle to do something else.
As for the new council, it will take a little time for them to adjust to each other. Each of them has a reason for wanting to be on council, and they have to each realize it’s not going to happen quickly, Reeve Rathwell said.
“I can remember when I was going on council,” he said. “I was going to change the world. Alvin (Stone) and Jack (Ferguson) made me see the light. Each decision is made by council, not a lone player. That was the best lesson I learned from them.”
