November 15, 2022 at 9:22 pm
“We need everyone’s help,” Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff sent the message at Tuesday night’s inaugural meeting.
Canniff is one of 18 City Council members sworn in for the 2022-2026 term.
The ceremony took place in front of a large crowd inside the Capitol Theater in downtown Chatham.
“17 MPs and myself can’t do it alone, we need everyone’s help,” Canniff said. “Collaboration is what works best. I challenge everyone to do 5% more in their community. If everyone in this room and everyone in Chatham-Kent gives 5% more, we’ll What a wonderful community to have.”
The city government welcomed five new councilors and twelve current councilors.
Lauren Anderson, Ryan Doyle, Rhonda Jubenville, Conor Allin and Alysson Storey are five first-time MPs for Chatham-Kent.
Conor Allin, the new MP for Ward 6, said he was excited to represent the municipality for the next four years.
“I think we’re going to do some great work over the next four years,” Allin said.
He said some of the most important issues for Allin to address include infrastructure and growth.
“Over the past 20 years or so, the ability to support this growth while trying to retain Chatham-Kent employees has been one of the biggest issues we have faced,” Allin said. “People turn 17 and can’t wait to get out of Chatham. Hopefully we can change that culture and get people who are proud of Chatham-Kent to stay in Chatham-Kent.”
Lauren Anderson, the new councilor for Ward 1, said the diversity of the City Council over the next four years has been amazing.
“I think we’re all going to bring certain things to the table, and I think it’s really important for us to come to a consensus and listen to all sides to do our best,” Anderson said.
After being sworn in, Council members received messages from Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Trevor Jones and Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton, who both congratulated the new members on their achievements and thanked Commitment of former members to the region.
The first meeting with the new board members will be on Monday 21st November.