Page 18 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 95

18 Issue #95 December 2020 www.sportsenergynews.com

Casey Leger Goes 1 -1 with our Local Members of Council

Interview with Interview with

Elaine MacDonald Andrew Guindon

“The one thing I’d like people to know about me is I am open to hearing any Twenty-six-year-old councilor for the Township of South Stormont, Andrew
concerns they have,” says four-term City Councilor Elaine MacDonald. “I will help Guindon first took office in 2018. Raised in St. Andrews West, he’s currently
get answers they are looking for or find the fixes they need, if they are within my living in Long Sault with his fiancé, Emily.
purview as a councilor. If they are not, I will be frank in saying so.” Besides his youth, Guindon brings a variety of experience to the council table. “I
MacDonald has called Cornwall her home since 1982. “I was born in Timmins, did three years of a business degree at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario,
lived in a series of mining towns as a kid, and travelled a fair bit as an adult,” she before getting early admission to law school at the University of Ottawa,” he says.
says. “Since graduating in 2018, I have been working at the Law Office of McDonald,
First elected in 2006, MacDonald has an impressive resume when it comes to Duncan, Dore LLP in Cornwall, Ontario. I was called to the Ontario Bar in 2019. I
education, activism, and politics. She has earned a combined Honours Degree in primarily practice in the areas of Business law, Wills and Estates, and Real Estate
English and Visual Arts, an M. A. in English, and she went on to complete the course law. I also take on the odd small claim court or landlord-tenant file.”
work for a doctorate in English. In addition to working as a lawyer, Guindon sits on the Board of Directors
“Later, when I resumed teaching, I earned specialist certification in English and for the Children’s Treatment Centre, a local non-profit organization dedicated to
supplementary qualifications in Special Ed. and Computers. I finished my teaching the prevention and treatment of child abuse in Cornwall, the United Counties of
career at SLHS, serving as department head in English and Communications SDG, and Akwesasne.
Technology,” she says. Guindon decided to run for Town Council in 2018. “I thought the Township
MacDonald was also active in teachers’ unions and became involved with had a lot of untapped potential, and I wanted do whatever I could to help my
Cornwall & District Labour Council where she still serves as recording secretary, community attract tourists, promote our local businesses and beautiful waterfront,
and she’s a member of the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada. and responsibly plan for growth,” he explains.
“Right now, I’m devoting a lot of energy to the future Art and Culture Centre,” Engaging the community in the decision-making process and ensuring that the
MacDonald says of her council work. “There is a symbiotic relationship between Township seeks public input when developing its strategic and master plans has
education and culture and the appropriate programs in a municipal arts center will also been an important issue for Guindon.
support the local education network and the development of a creative economy.” “During the remainder of this term, I would really like to see the Township
MacDonald asserts that Cornwall has a thriving arts community “The arts center make a big investment in some of the roads, sidewalks, and playground equipment
will be the third piece in our municipal cultural facilities, along with the public in the northern portion of our township - Newington, Bonville, Northfield, St
library and community museum, and we will continue to work closely with private Andrews, and Osnabruck Centre - that are in fairly rough shape. Improving the
art spaces like Cailuan Gallery, our neighbour on Pitt Street, will enrich the city level of services in our smaller villages is very important to me,” Guindon says.
tremendously.” He also mentions that the St. Lawrence Parks Commission has been quite
MacDonald has no political ambitions beyond her current position on Council, receptive of the Township’s new Waterfront Master Plan. “I would really like
a position which she enjoys, although she admits that it comes with challenges. “A to see our residents have improved access to the waterfront in Long Sault and
local issue that is simmering and will soon come to a boil is the electoral question of Ingleside,” he says. “My hope is that one day the waterfronts in Long Sault and
returning to a ward system in place of the current practice of electing councilors at Ingleside can be a place where members of the community can easily gather and
large,” she says. “I am firmly in favour of councilors at large.” take part in events and festivals. Having public washrooms, a covered eating
“A ward system has the potential of pitting neighbourhoods against each other area, a place for pop-up vendors, maybe a simple stage for performances, and a
with reps fighting for a greater share of the common purse to enhance their own boardwalk or beach would be so great for the Township.”
backyards, so to speak,” explains MacDonald. “It was a divisive practice in the past As for challenges, Guindon cites balancing important projects for the
and would move us backward. We accomplish more when we work together for municipality with keeping the budget at an affordable level. “We are a small
common goals, that benefit the whole city. Council isn’t about fighting with each Township with a limited budget,” he explains, “so sometimes we must pick and
other; it’s about working together and finding common ground that makes things choose only one or two of many good potential projects each year at budget time.”
better for everyone. I know where I stand on the issue.” Guindon would like his constituents to know that if they ever have any
Another current issue before Council is the licensing of rental properties, which is questions, concerns, suggestions, or would just like to talk about a project or
something MacDonald supports. “We have a higher percentage of renters than many idea they have, they can call him anytime on his cell at 613 330 1935. “I am
Ontario municipalities and working to maintain appropriate property standards in the always willing to take a call and listen,” he says. “Follow the Township or me on
city is crucial to community safety and wellbeing. We’re wrapping up community Facebook to be kept up to date on what’s happening. We often put out surveys
consultation now and I will be strongly advocating that an appropriate policy be through social media to get input from residents on various items that Council
formulated,” she says. will be considering.”

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