Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley's Weekly Column

It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of September.

The week got off to a great start with the Jarvis Touch-a-Truck event. It was wonderful to see such a great turnout, with lots of vendors, trucks and families coming out to enjoy the day. Events like this provide a great opportunity for local children to get up close with the vehicles and equipment that help keep our community moving, while bringing everyone together.

From there, it was right into a busy Monday. We held our final Council meeting of this term before the election, and afterwards I zipped over to catch the tail end of Park It for Parkinson’s at Grandview Lodge in Dunnville. Thank you to the Grandview Lodge team for organizing the car show and barbecue for residents and the community, and to everyone who came out to support this important cause. It was wonderful to see the community come together for such a meaningful fundraiser.

Tuesday brought another special community celebration as I joined the Friends of LaFortune Park for the ribbon-cutting of their beautiful new mural. The mural has added so much colour and character to the underpass at the park, and it is a great example of what can happen when community members have an idea and work together to make it happen. This project was partially funded through Haldimand County’s Community Partnership Capital Grant Program. Thank you to everyone who helped bring this project to life.

One of the highlights of the week was undoubtedly the Norfolk Haldimand Community Hospice – Williamson House groundbreaking. It was a beautiful and incredibly meaningful day, and one that made history for our communities. After so many years of fundraising, hard work and determination, seeing the shovels go into the ground was a very special moment.

Thank you to the Hospice Board, staff, sponsors, donors, volunteers and the countless community members who have supported this vision. It is because of your generosity and commitment that this much-needed facility is becoming a reality. What you have accomplished will have an impact on families across our communities for generations to come.

I was also pleased to attend our Annual Volunteer Firefighters Awards Night, where we had the opportunity to recognize firefighters celebrating various milestones in their service. Our volunteer firefighters give so much of their time to protect their neighbours and communities, often while balancing their own families, jobs and responsibilities. It is always an honour to recognize their dedication and say thank you for everything they do.

The week also included a Haldimand OPP Detachment Board meeting, as well as some great community stops, including the Dunnville Rotary Club bottle drive and the Dunnville Legion dunk tank. These events are reminders that community is built by people who are willing to give their time, raise funds, volunteer and simply show up to support one another.

As we move into the final month of this term of Council, there is certainly a lot to reflect on. This election period has brought the added responsibility of balancing my role as Mayor, which continues through the end of the current term, with my role as a candidate in the upcoming municipal election. These are two separate roles, and I have worked hard to ensure that my responsibilities as Mayor and the business of the County continue to be carried out throughout this period.

It has certainly made these final weeks busier and more challenging, but I remain committed to serving the community and fulfilling the responsibilities of the Mayor’s office right through to the end of the term.

With the municipal election now just one month away, I encourage everyone to take the time to educate yourself, ask questions, listen to the candidates, be respectful of one another, and make sure you vote.

This is an important time for our community. Take the time to learn about the issues that matter to you, hear from those who have put their names forward, and make an informed decision about the future of Haldimand County.