Last night, Mattawa council held its inaugural meeting. Councillors Mathew Gardiner, Fern Levesque, Loren Mick, Laura Ross, and Garry Thibert were all sworn in by the clerk, and Mayor Raymond Belanger, after his swearing in, offered an inaugural address.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the people have spoken,” Mayor Belanger said, “and tonight begins the repair of our foundation towards the development of a prosperous, fair, respected and caring Mattawa.”
Belanger emphasized that “words alone cannot express what being sworn in as the 34th mayor of Mattawa means to me.” He congratulated the new council and thanked the previous councillors for their commitment to the community. He thanked former Mayor Dean Backer for “over two decades” of civic service.
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He noted “obstacles” lay ahead, “but these obstacles are opportunities for us to rise to the occasion and overcome them as a community.” Community was a strong theme in Mayor Belanger’s speech, often highlighting the importance of coming together to achieve the town’s goals. “We succeed only when we work together,” he emphasized.
As for those goals, Mayor Belanger wants all to “work diligently toward our commitment to grow Mattawa,” and council will help small businesses and residents who “continue to claw their way out” of the economic setbacks of the past few years.
“We will do our best to support every segment of our community,” and “improve relations and work with our Indigenous community.”
Also, the mayor’s “sights are set” on completing the town’s asset management plan, revising, and updating the council’s procedural by-law, the zoning by-law, and the official plan. Revising an updating shared services agreements with neighbouring communities is also on the to-do list.
Mayor Belanger also plans to develop new housing models “that will meet the needs of all citizens,” and will work to establish a business retention and attraction plan. A strategic plan is also on the horizon, “which identifies vision, mission, values, and goals that will guide our promising future.”
A new day is dawning in Mattawa. “You want leadership and vision for our future,” Mayor Belanger emphasized to residents, and that vision comes with fiscal responsibility, ensuring “every tax dollar we spend results in a gain for our community.”
“I will lead Council when making the fiscally prudent decisions that are required to grow our community and to improve municipal services all while carefully managing the tax burden on our businesses and residents.”
He noted accountability and transparency will be foundations of the new council, all with the goal of moving the town forward.
“And we're going to do this together,” he emphasized. “Tonight is not a victory for any one person. It is a victory for Mattawa—all of us who love this town and care about its future.”
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
