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This year, I mark my 25th year in Municipal politics - as a Nepean Alderman, then Councillor, Regional Councillor, and now, a City of Ottawa Councillor, representing Knoxdale-Merivale Ward.
It is and has been truly an honour to serve in this capacity. While the hours aren't great and the meetings can tax one's patience the work never stops being varied and interesting.
Besides seeing the form of municipal government change over the last 25 years, I have also witnessed and been part of the decisions regarding the evolution of the communities of Nepean and greater Ottawa over same period. When I joined Nepean and Regional Council in 1980, Woodroffe and Greenbank were two lane roads, the transitway was under discussion and Hunt Club Road was a line on a map. Craig Henry and Centrepointe were still producing crops of hay and the cows had just been moved from Fisher Glen. Merivale Road was a very busy commercial centre - well at least some things never change.
I have been fortunate to work with and learn from outstanding public officials such as Ben Franklin, Andy Haydon, Walter Baker and Dick Bell, each of whom has left a lasting legacy in Nepean.
Here are a few pictures from the last 25 years I would like to share with you. I hope they may stir some memories for you as they have for me.
25 Years | First term on Nepean City Council, 1980 |
|  | With former MP Walter Baker, 1980 |
|  | Nepean City Council 1982-85 |
|  | Rideau Heights Business Park Ground Breaking with Former Industry Minister Claude Bennett, Former MPP Bob Mitchell, Mayor Ben Franklin and myself - Chair of Nepean's Industry Committee, 1985 |
|  | With Former Regional Chair Andy Haydon, 1985 |
|  | Grand Opening of Centrepointe Theatre with Ben Franklin and ushers, 1987 |
|  | Both the Nepean Bell and I moved to the new Nepean City Hall at Centrepointe, 1988 |
|  | Participating in the Great Ride Against Cancer with Martin Montague and David Pratt, 1991 |
|  | Tree Planting along Hunt Club Road with Regional and Nepean City Councillors, Principal John Spence and students from Confederation HS, late 90s |
|  | At the Nepean Sportswall of Fame celebration with Chamber of Commerce's Buck Arnold, MP Pierre Poilievre, MPP Jim Watson, 2005 |
|  | With former MP Beryl Gaffney at my 25th Anniversary in Politics Luncheon, Nov 05 |
|  | Reminiscing with Merv Beckstead, Andy Haydon and Mayor Chiarelli, Nov 05 |
|  | Mayor Chiarelli presents a certificate at Council, Nov 05 |
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Last Updated: 2006-01-16
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