Election time is a time to look back and to the future

Many significant politicians in Woodstock's history

At municipal election time, it can be an excellent moment to look back at some of the important community builders of the past -- a history lesson in civics or politicians of yesteryear who represented Woodstock or the county.

If you have ever visited the Woodstock Museum (466 Dundas) you may recall seeing several pictures of Woodstock City Council members of years past. The museum has a dedicated space in a permanent exhibit to recognize both the original council chambers and its elected members. It's hard to believe, but at one time elections were held annually.

Many significant council members from the past 30 years or so can be quickly recalled -- Phil Poole, Pauline Brown, Ken Bullen, Lenore Young, Rick Coad . . .  

Those who attend Theatre Woodstock for plays, musicals and concerts know all about Pauline Brown as there is a plaque noting her dedication to saving the historic market centre at Reeve and Peel, and a true driving force to have that building converted into a performing arts centre instead of possibly falling victim to a wrecking ball. Today, the theatre has state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems thanks to fundraising by the in-house user groups, grants from higher levels of government such as the Trillium Foundation, and obviously approvals through the annual budget process from council. 

City Council has a true influence on the current and future of its community, and I look forward  - with your permission (your vote) in continuing the simultaneous efforts of both council and the many department staff leaders who guide this evolution. Sound decisions are made through feasibility studies, engineer reports, and long-term planning.  

Other names related to this category could be former federal and provincial representatives such as Gordon Pittock, Dr. Harry Parrott, Bruce Halliday, Wally Nesbitt, Dick Treleaven, Gord Innes, Thomas Dent, and John Finlay.   

Pittock, for example, who was a MPP for Oxford and a member of the board for the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority when it was established in 1947, became a board chair, and continued with the UTRCA in the mid-1960s when the Pittock Reservoir or Pittock Dam was under construction along the Thames River in the south end of Woodstock. The Pittock Lake is over 500 acres and was completed in 1967.

Here's a list below of many local (Woodstock) mayors who have had streets and/or parks named after them.

 

 

MAYOR PARKS – Hugh Richardson, William Grey, Joseph Sudsworth, James Kintrea, Thomas Cottle, Homer Brown, John McWhinnie, Roland Sawtell, James Sutherland, Donald Thomson, Bill Dutton, Trevor Slater, Les Cook

MAYOR STREETS – Henry (and John) Finkle, William Wilson, Robert Revell, Thomas Parker, Warren Totten, John Grant, Arthur Francis, Dennis Karn, Malcolm Douglas, James Hay, Richard Knight, John Butler, AB Welford, Jack Sales, Charles Hayball, Edward McKenzie, Bernadette Smith, Charlie Tatham, Bill Dutton, James Hutchinson, Wendy Calder, Joseph Pember, Margaret Munnoch. John Geoghegan, Pat Sobeski, Michael Harding.

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