Huntsville’s new council is sworn in at the Algonquin Theatre

The buzz of the municipal election is over.

Huntsville’s new council was sworn in on Monday at the Algonquin Theatre to a standing ovation by an estimated 80 attendees.

Local talent Paige Meunier sang the national anthem at the ceremony and Rama Chief Ted Williams, who presides over The Chippewas of Rama First Nation Council, was the guest speaker at Huntsville Council’s inaugural meeting.

Williams spoke of first meeting Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock sometime in 1999/2000. She was working for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and he was working on behalf of Casino Rama. He said there were many meetings and recalled Huntsville’s new mayor as “very personable and very open.” He thanked her for inviting him to speak at the special event and spoke of the great strides that have been made through the Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table. The table made up of Indigenous and municipal representatives from the area which has been meeting since June 2019 to bring the communities closer together. He said one of the first items the group worked on was the creation of land acknowledgment statements. He also challenged those present to “go anywhere across this country to find the kind of relationship that we’ve developed during the course of the last three and a half years.” Williams closed by extending a promise of friendship to the Town of Huntsville.

In a recorded video from Ottawa, MPP Scott Aitchison, who also served as Mayor of Huntsville, congratulated the incoming council members. He told the new council that there would be good days and there would be tough days but “the overall experience I guarantee you will be one of great joy and a huge honour. It’s an amazing thing to represent your community. It’s an amazing thing to champion ideas that will move your community forward and improve the lives of your fellow citizens.” Aitchison told the new council that he looks forward to working with each one of them.

During her inaugural speech, Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock thanked outgoing Huntsville Mayor Karin Terziano for everything she has done to “leave this town in excellent shape.” She said Terziano and Chief Williams forged a strong relationship, which she hopes to continue. “It is my hope that I will l live up to the standard of excellence that you have set,” she told Terziano to applause.

Alcock also thanked current and former mayors who attended the inaugural council meeting, which included Gravenhurst and Bracebridge mayors Heidi Lorenz and Rick Maloney respectively, and former Huntsville mayors Claude Doughty and Len Clarke.

“I look forward to building on past achievements of previous councils. We know we must continue to maintain our roads and manage our resources and ensure our infrastructure is capable of handling new development, and this all goes without saying,” said Alcock.

Signaling some of her priorities as Mayor of Huntsville in the coming term, Alcock said during the election campaign, which was like no other, she heard loud and clear from the community as well as councillors that municipal government needs to listen and act on issues of inclusion, accessibility, equality, “and frankly, the basic essentials of life. It is imperative that we reflect the voices of our whole community and put their needs into action.”

Alcock summarized the strategic issues that the new council would tackle:

• Collaborate with the community on decisions.
• Decision-making should be inclusive.
• Improve active transportation and public transit networks in Huntsville and between sister communities.
• The need to “finally get it right when it comes to providing much-needed new and alternative housing” that is essential if the community is to remain vibrant, health, and sustainable.
• Collaborate with all municipalities in Muskoka with regard to the “climate crisis to keep our promises with respect to climate adaptation.”
• Enhance and maintain community recreational infrastructure to keep up with the demands of an ever-growing population, especially a growing community of seniors population.
• Do everything council can to work with community youth, especially with those whose needs are great and whose opportunities are few.
• Council will continue to work diligently with Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare and all representatives of the healthcare sector to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in the community, “any way we can,” said Alcock.
• “We heard that you love Huntsville deeply and are worried that development pressures may put too much strain on our natural resources. And while most of you are not suggesting we stop this unparalleled growth, you want to know it will be done in a balanced way knowing our precious resources—our lakes, forests, and wetlands— will be preserved.”
• And finally, “you want your council to communicate so you are aware of the progress we are making.”

Alcock said over the next month, council committees will be formed and opportunities for input will be established. “It’s all about engagement,” she said. “We will start by creating several new committees focused on the delivery of our priorities and we will call upon community members to be part of this process.”

She recognized the important work of municipal staff and said, “we are one team all with the collective responsibility to serve you.” Alcock also said the municipality will continue to strengthen its relationships with volunteer groups, service clubs, and not-for-profit organizations as well as the business community and faith-based organizations.

She congratulated elected council members, as well as those who were not elected, for their hard work and for running a challenging campaign. She also teared up while thanking her family and friends for keeping her humble and for their unwavering support during the past few years and during her bid to become Huntsville’s next mayor.

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