Kincardine has a new municipal councillor to fill the vacant position in Ward 3.
At its meeting Wednesday (Jan 6th) council appointed Dorne C. Fitzsimmons to the position.
A release from the municipality says the seat had been 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.
Ten candidates filed all necessary papers and declarations. Each of the candidates was afforded the opportunity to address Council at the meeting. After hearing from the candidates Council voted by way of open public vote.
Fitzsimmons has been a lifelong resident of the area. He was a councillor for the village of Tiverton in the 1980s and Reeve for a number of years. Fitzsimmons has been a lifelong resident of the area. He was a councillor for the village of Tiverton in the 1980s and Reeve for a number of years. He sits on a number of local boards and committees. He is the President of the Bruce County Historical Society. He also is a member of Heritage Kincardine, as well as Treasurer for the Kincardine & Community Health Care Foundation and a member of the Kincardine Hospital Redevelopment Oversight Committee.
Fitzsimmons’ address is posted below:
“I am a lifelong resident of this municipality. I attended public school at WE Thompson PS and
then to Bruce Central PS for Grade 8 and then high school in Port Elgin.
In August 1979 I was employed by Ontario Hydro at the Bruce Nuclear Power Development
(BNPD). Later with Ontario Power Generation and then Bruce Power until I retired in 2014 as
a Cost & Scheduling Technician.
I moved to Tiverton in 1982 and successfully ran for the village council in 1985. In 1988, with
the resignation of the Reeve, I was appointed to that position and held it until I stepped down
in 1995. During my time as Reeve I also attended County Council and participated in the
committees identified below.
During my time on Tiverton village council, we were successful in construction of our sewer
system, water system upgrades, construction of the Tiverton & District Sports Centre,
construction of the Tiverton & District Fire Hall, implemented the blue box recycling system
(before BASWRA) and paving the village streets. Many of these projects required successful
negotiations with our neighbours, Bruce & Kincardine Townships and Ontario Hydro (OPG).
Even with all these projects, the village was debt free by 1995.
I was an active member of the Planning Advisory Committee that handled local planning
issues. This committee was made up of members from Kincardine, Kincardine Twp., Huron
Twp., Ripley, Tiverton and the Bruce County Planning Dept.
Also, during this time, I was involved with the issues surrounding the impact of the BNPD on
the area (Impact Advisory Committee), Bruce Energy Centre, closing of the heavy water
plants and Bruce A, and the efforts to save Bruce A. I was also involved in the formulation of
the Bruce Nuclear Emergency Plan.
At the county level, through different committees, I was involved in the approval and
monitoring of departmental budgets, personnel matters, property improvements/additions,
scrutinized bids for goods and services, capital projects, and developed policies.
Over the years I have served on Municipality of Kincardine (MOK) committees and initiatives
participated in workshops, plan formulation and have participated in many municipal
sanctioned surveys.”
Fitzsmmons also provided council with a list of his relevant experience, listed below.
Current Responsibilities
Heritage Kincardine, Member
Kincardine & Community Health Care Foundation, Director and Treasurer
Kincardine (Hospital) Redevelopment Oversight Committee (Member)
Bruce County Historical Society, President
Some Past MOK Committees and Initiatives:
Kincardine Community Fund
Recreation Committee
Cemetery Committee
Integrated Community Sustainability Plan
Asset Management Plan (Service Levels Workshop)
Various surveys
Village of Tiverton, Reeve and Councillor (partial)
Tiverton & District Sports Centre, Chair, Planning Committee
Sewer Construction Committee, Chair
Planning Advisory Committee, Member
Impact Advisory Committee (BNPD), Member
Local Employment, Assistance and Development (grew into Community Futures)
County of Bruce, Councillor (partial)
Highways Committee, Member
Finance, Personnel & Property Committee, Member
Restructuring Committee, Member
Bruce Grey 911 Committee, Member
Health Care
Kincardine & District General Hospital, Board of Directors, Member
South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Board of Directors, Member and Chair
Fitzsimmons added in his presentation,
“I have gained extensive experience in municipal affairs over the years. This experience has
helped to develop my leadership, decision-making capabilities and to value the input and
solutions offered by others. 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.”
You can find the other candidates’ statements in Council’s Agenda
