Kincardine appoints new Ward 3 Councillor to fill vacant position

At the Municipality of Kincardine Council meeting of January 6, 2020 Council appointed Dorne C. Fitzsimmons to the vacant position of Councillor Ward 3.

The Office of Councillor Ward 3 for the Municipality of Kincardine was declared vacant in accordance with section 262(1) of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001.C.25 on November 16, 2020. This position was left vacant by the appointment of Randy Roppel to the position of Deputy Mayor after that seat was left vacant by the passing of Marie Wilson.

The process for filling this vacancy was conducted under the “Appoint an Eligible Elector to Fill a Vacancy Procedure” approved by Council on November 9, 2020.

Ten candidates filed all necessary papers and declarations during the period commencing November 20, 2020 and completed at 2 p.m. on December 21, 2020. Each of the candidates was afforded the opportunity to address Council at the meeting.

Fitzsimmons is a lifelong resident of the municipality who attended public school at WE Thompson Public School, Bruce Central Public School and then high school in Port Elgin. He was employed by Ontario Hydro at the Bruce Nuclear Power Development (BNPD) and later with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and then Bruce Power until retirement in 2014 as a Cost & Scheduling Technician.

After moving to Tiverton in 1982, he successfully ran for the village council in 1985 and, in 1988, with the resignation of the Reeve, Fitzsimmons was appointed to that position and held it until stepping down in 1995.

Fitzsimmons has held positions on many municipality committees including: Heritage Kincardine, Kincardine & Community Health Care Foundation, Director and Treasurer Kincardine (Hospital) Redevelopment Oversight Committee, Bruce County Historical Society President … and several others, in addition to committees with the County of Bruce.

In his ‘resume’ presented to Council prior to the voting, Fitzsimmons said, “The opportunity to represent Ward 3 allows me to, once again, strive to improve our communities and to help people with their issues the best I can. I want to ensure that all areas of the municipality have access, if possible, to the same advantages that the municipality has to offer. To guide the municipality into the future given all the pressures that are more prevalent in today’s world. To work as a team with Council and stakeholders to accomplish this. And, to advocate for the issues of Ward 3 and for the municipality as a whole.”

After hearing from all the highly-qualified candidates through a zoom meeting, Council voted by way of open public vote.