Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — There were a few teary eyes as at last night’s Whitewater Region Township council meeting as Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon prepared to present Reeve Don Rathwell with a Certificate of Appreciation.
Prior to presenting the certificate, Warden Emon said he admired this council.
“I’m trying to get out to all the outgoing councils to say thank you, not only to you, but to those of you not returning and your families,” he said. “We are very fortunate with the effort you have put in over the years and the leadership that you have shown. I am very hopeful that your community realizes that as well.”
People in your community speak with pride in the progress this community has made over the years, Warden Emon said. Many are survivors of the amalgamation discussions, as people faced the challenges of trying to fit together a few communities with a variety of interests to come up with one community.
“I know it’s not a topic everyone was in favour of but we have all grown to appreciate the effort that you made to become one community,” he said.
People don’t become municipal politicians because of the money or having a statue or picture on the wall, he said. Mainly, it’s the quiet satisfaction of driving by or walking into a building that you had a part of putting together, he said.
The council of Whitewater Region Township also has a crowning glory, Warden Emon said.
“I think one of the crowning achievements for your council is one I’m very impressed with, and I speak on a regular basis about, is your recent official plan amendment,” he said. “It’s a document that is not perfect, by any stretch, and I’m not going to shine your apple and tell you that it is, but it’s a good document because you took your time, you assessed it and you became at ease with it because you used common sense and good planning. It will stand the test of time.”
It’s a document that works well for this community, Warden Emon said. That’s not often said about policy or official planning, he said. It’s a great piece of work and he has shared it with other municipalities because they are going through what this township already has, he added.
Warden Emon said this council has always made him feel comfortable when attending various municipal conferences.
“I have a special affinity for your municipality, because I can’t think of the number of conferences I attended where you were kind enough to invite me out, Joe and Don and Jim and Izett, to a dinner when we’re at a conference, because at my municipality, I was about the only one who travelled to conferences, so it was pretty lonely sitting at Tim Hortons by myself until you guys took me under your wing and allowed me like a cousin to come to your dinner,” he said.
However, Warden Emon said he was also attending the meeting on behalf of the County to thank Reeve Rathwell for his many years of service.
Choking up, Warden Emon said, “Don, I’ve known for a hundred years. I’m going to miss his wise counsel and sense of humour.
“He taught me a lot over the years, by example and sometimes by words,” he said. “I’ve been very fortunate.”
Standing and walking to where Reeve Rathwell was sitting, Warden Emon shook his hand and said, “On behalf of Renfrew County, Don, thank you.”
Reeve Rathwell said, “Thank you so much.”
It was 32 years ago Reeve Rathwell became a municipal politician at Ross Township.
“The people I have worked with, I’ve had such a wonderful time,” he said. “I can’t thank the people enough who were always around me.”
Working with former mayor Gordon White and current Mayor Jim Labow has been great, because they taught him something, Reeve Rathwell said, as have the many politicians and staff members he’s had the pleasure of knowing.
“I do want to thank everybody for being so nice to me all these years, particularly the staff,” Reeve Rathwell said, adding, “I’m not sure what I’ll do in the future, but I just don’t think I’ll sit in a chair and look around.”
