BRUCE COUNTY – Chris Peabody, mayor of Brockton, has been acclaimed for a second term as Bruce County warden.
Peabody was first elected warden in 2023, and will retain the seat for 2024.
Luke Charbonneau, mayor of Saugeen Shores, has been acclaimed as Bruce County’s first deputy warden.
The two took office on Dec. 7, during the inaugural meeting of Bruce County council for 2024.
Peabody was escorted to the front of the council chamber by his mover and seconder, county councillors Don Murray and Mark Goetz, to take the oath of office.
His first action as 2024 warden was to give a “shout-out to the Brockton staff,” the senior management team who attended the inaugural meeting.
He then described a meeting on immigration he’d attended earlier that day, and of how he’d been told that Toronto gets the majority of the funding, and the north also gets funding. Bruce County was described as getting nothing, and being like the “middle child,” he said.
“You’re going to have to speak out,” he was told.
He continued by saying he’s “up to the challenge,” and, working with the county’s intergovernmental relations department in the next term, “I’ll be making sure that Bruce County gets on the map down at the province and at the federal level, so we get our fair share of attention.”
Over the past year, he said he’s enjoyed going from one end of the county to the other, and attending various events. He said he’d filled “98 per cent” of his commitments.
Peabody expressed amazement in all the “hard work local councils have done” in building up the towns, stating every downtown in the county has had major investments and is “an absolute jewel.”
He outlined his priorities for 2024, once again stating his dedication to building “meaningful relationships built on respect and collaboration” with the county’s First Nations. Staff is working on a reconciliation plan that, when completed, will form the basis of very positive engagement, he said.
Another priority is affordable housing – a need the county has been very active on.
Related to that is the need to welcome newcomers.
“With zero unemployment in our area, we have to make sure newcomers feel welcome and valued,” said Peabody.
The 2024 warden spoke of the county’s transit study on the agenda of the meeting that followed the inaugural session, and of the county’s continuing support for Bruce Power, not only a huge supplier of the province’s electricity, but a pioneer in the production of medical isotopes.
Peabody concluded by stressing his intention to continue “open communication with our municipal partners… that’s key to our success.” He urged mayors to invite him to meetings and events, and said he’s interested in hearing “from your councils what your priorities are for your community.”
In closing, he said, “Let us work together – our staff, our council, our municipalities, in building a prosperous and diverse, welcoming community. We are blessed with an amazing place that our predecessors created. Let us respect that legacy and continue to progress forward.”
For the first time, Bruce County council followed the election of warden with that of the deputy warden.
Charbonneau was escorted by his mover and seconder, county councillors Kenneth Craig and Steve Hammell, to the front to take his oath of office.
Charbonneau said he was “excited to be the county’s first deputy warden,” part of the “new approach to managing the business of Bruce County council.” He said he looked forward, as deputy warden, to helping to “define that role” and helping to lead council as we implement our new meeting structure.”
The deputy warden also said he looked forward to assisting the warden in his responsibilities and working with all members of council.
“Collegiality and co-operation have always been my preferred approach as a member of council, and as deputy warden, I intend to work alongside the warden and to collaborate with each of you to ensure that our county advances and grows well in a way that works from Teeswater to Tobermory, and everywhere in between,” said Charbonneau.
