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Mary J. Daniel. Photo Provided Mary J. Daniel moved to Portland 10 years ago. Her partner’s roots in the area go back six generations. Born and raised on a nearby farm, her partner grew up cottaging on the Rideau and has stewarded a 70-acre woodlot and wetland complex off the Cat Trail, near Chaffey’s, since the early 2000s. The couple fixed up and now live in one of the village’s heritage houses. Before moving to Rideau Lakes, Daniel worked in the cultural sectors of Vancouv

Brian Preston. Photo Provided 1. Why vote for Brian Preston? Skills/experience and time to devote to my community on council, serving residents by listening and understanding residents in order to make better council decisions Contribute to creating a new council that respects each other and operates in a democratic way without using Strong Mayor Powers Council needs to heal this term: Over 34 years federal public service in executive Human Resource management where my Labour

Norman Burns is running for the position of councillor for Ward 1, Bastard and South Burgess, in the upcoming Rideau Lakes municipal election on Oct. 26, 2026. Burns is a lifetime resident of Rideau Lakes Township, having been raised on a farm on Clear Lake Road, R.R. 1, Elgin, Ont. He attended South Crosby Public School and Rideau District High School, both in Elgin. After graduating from the five-year program at Rideau, Burns attended St. Lawrence College in Brockville in t

Funding will support six local projects to create new economic opportunities, attract investment and visitors, and plan for long-term growth L to R: North Grenville Mayor Nancy Peckford, Edwardsburgh Cardinal Mayor Tory Deschamps, Spencerville Mill’s Sheila Fawcett, MPP Steve Clark, Gananoque Mayor John Beddows, Elizabethtown-Kitley Mayor Brant Burrow. As part of its plan to protect rural communities, the Ontario government is investing $250,813 to support economic growth and

Kate Ferguson is running for Rideau Lakes Council, saying she wants to help ensure the municipality continues to be a place where families can build a future. “I have been proud to call Rideau Lakes home for my entire life,” Ferguson said. Her family has deep agricultural roots in the community dating back to the 1800s. Ferguson is raising her family in Rideau Lakes, while her family has owned and operated a construction business in the area for more than 40 years. Her husban

He is a lifelong believer in the importance of community and in giving back to the place he calls home. His wife, Krista, and he are raising their family here in Rideau Lakes, and they are proud to be part of a community where neighbours support one another and people are willing to lend a hand. He owns and operates Newboro Lawn & Garden, a local small business that has given him firsthand experience in customer service, budgeting, problem-solving, and responsible decision-ma

Barb Shea. Photo Provided. Four years ago, Barb Shea chose Delta as her home, and as part of her retirement plan. Her connection to the Rideau Lakes community began years earlier when visiting her son’s family here. She came to know and love the area, meeting many of the neighbours. She eventually purchased their house as she had grown to love the community and knew it would feel like home. Shea brings more than 40 years of health-care experience in hospitals, community and p

Joe Aragona has been acclaimed as Mayor of Westport. Photo Provided Westport Mayor-Elect Joe Aragona is moving into the mayor’s chair after four years on council. Aragona, who moved to Westport in 2021, was acclaimed as mayor when no other candidate registered to contest the seat by the Aug. 21 nomination deadline. He said he is honoured by the privilege of becoming mayor, still he acknowledges he’s a little blown away that he is about to don the mayoral chain of office. He’

Ron Young. Photo Provided. Ron Young and his wife have loved living here for the past 32 years. They have loved raising their children in the township, enjoying the lakes, the wildlife and the beautiful vistas. Young has been involved in the local political scene for the past 13 years, increasingly with each passing year. He has organized and moderated candidates' meetings in two different elections, and he administers a community discussion page online. Young has experience

Tom Kohler. Photo Provided. A Local Voice. Practical Experience. A Commitment to Our Community. Tom Kohler is seeking support to represent Ward 2, South Elmsley, on Rideau Lakes Council. Kohler’s connection to this area runs deep. His family has called Eastern Ontario home for generations, and his wife’s family has roots in Rideau Lakes dating back to 1816. His family built their Big Rideau cottage in 1967, and he has cherished this community ever since. Kohler and his wife h

Steve Weir. Photo Credit: Laurie Weir Longtime Rideau Lakes resident Steve Weir is running for mayor in the 2026 municipal election, saying the township needs respectful leadership, a council that can work together and a clearer long-term plan for its finances, infrastructure and future growth. Weir, 59, has lived in Rideau Lakes for more than 50 years. He grew up in Chantry and now lives with his family near Newboro. He said he would bring a different kind of experience to t

David Wickenden. Photo Provided. David Wickenden is seeking support to serve as councillor for Rideau Lakes Township’s North Crosby/Newboro Ward 4. Wickenden’s connection to Rideau Lakes began in 1969. In 1974, he married Fay Taggart, and they have been married for 52 years. The couple made Rideau Lakes their permanent home in 1979, raising their two daughters and becoming proud grandparents to four grandchildren. Throughout his career, Wickenden worked locally and travelled

L to R) RWLT's Carolyn Spang, Kayla Horne, and Rachel Zylstra enjoy a scenic break during a field day hike in the new Whitefish Nature Reserve. Photo Provided. The Rideau Waterway Land Trust (RWLT) has recently added a biodiverse 209-acre reserve to its conserved lands. The Whitefish Nature Reserve at 172 Whitefish Lake Road features a network of trails that are now open to the public from dusk to dawn. This land near Jones Falls will now be protected under the umbrella of th

Clarence Donnelly is seeking election to Rideau Lakes Township council, bringing 44 years of experience working for the township and a lifetime of experience in the local community. Donnelly was raised on the mountain about one mile from Westport and has never left the area. He and his wife, Debbie, have a small farm on McCann Road. He served for many years with both the Westport and Elgin fire departments. He and his wife have four daughters and seven grandchildren. Donnelly

Open Dam. Photo Provided. Chaffey’s Area Lakes Association (CALA) are holding their Annual General Meeting this Saturday morning at the Chaffey’s Lock Community Hall from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A Pancake & Sausage Breakfast will be served prior to the meeting, with breakfast being served starting at 9 a.m. and the meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. Everyone welcome! The focus of our speakers centers on the Rideau Canal. Dr. John Gray will talk about the history of the dams and tim

Paula Banks. Photo Provided. Paula Banks grew up on a family farm in Rideau Lakes. Her parents were Ivan and Neoma Nichols. Her father operated Ivan Nichols Plumbing & Electric, and her mother grew up in Portland. Banks attended Rideau District High School and continued her education through St. Lawrence College, along with studies in inventory management and quality improvement. “Most of my working life was spent in manufacturing, procurement, inventory, warehousing and supp

Corinne Rikkelman. Photo Provided. Corinne Rikkelman is the sixth candidate to enter the race for one of the four council seats in Westport. She said she'd like to get to the table to help Westport grow. “It's a really interesting time because we have this new development that's bringing in a lot of people, and these people are passionate and skilled and interested in getting involved in the community,” Rikkelman said. At the same time, she is concerned about protecting what

John McCormack has filed his nomination for councillor in Ward 2 (South Elmsley) in the 2026 Rideau Lakes municipal election. McCormack, who moved to Ontario from Montreal in 1980, has a varied background that includes senior management in the automotive sector, running his own custom home-building company, and serving as a former member of council in Greater Napanee. He and his wife, Inkeri, have four children and seven grandchildren. The couple moved from Greater Napanee to

Dustin Bulloch. Photo Provided. Dustin Bulloch is seeking re-election as councillor for Ward 3 (South Crosby) in the 2026 Rideau Lakes municipal election. Bulloch was born and raised in the Rideau Lakes area. He and his wife have two school-aged children who, as he puts it, "keep us busy whether we want to be or not." He has worked with Parks Canada on the Rideau Canal since 2007, spending much of that time in canal operations. He currently serves as technical services co-or

Keegan Gray. Photo Provided. Local property manager and businessman Keegan Gray is running to be a councillor in Westport. He is the fifth person to enter the race for one of the four seats on council. Gray is originally from South Africa. He and his wife, Rachel, moved to Westport five years ago from Toronto, where he worked for Tridel, the biggest property management firm in Canada. His wife’s ancestors in Westport and the area go back at least five generations. Her grandfa