Council Representation

Office of the Mayor Page

Bio: I have served my community as a Town Councillor (2018 to 2022), Chair of the Development and Operations Committee and Vice Chair of the Regional Physician Recruitment Committee.

As Mayor, my priorities include: increasing affordable housing for people who work in Collingwood, ensuring respectful development, and creating a sustainable and livable Town for our residents. I would like to enhance communications, including increasing opportunities for residents to hear about things Council are discussing and to ask questions about matters that mean the most to them.

Prior to being elected, I practiced as a senior lawyer in the municipal law field for 27 years and chaired the Canadian Property Tax Association.

Bio: 2022-26 will be my second council term, 1st as Deputy Mayor. Combined with my 35 yrs as Finance Officer for Collingwood Public Utilities I am able to use decades of experience to assist Council in our decision making. I obtained my CMA CPA designation and a BA in Economics after graduating from good ol’ CCI. I have been married for almost 35 years to Laurie Saunders and we have raised 1 son & 2 daughters (all CCI grads too).  I’m a long-time local volunteer most extensively with Big Brothers/Sisters (25 yrs) and many youth sports. As a squash, baseball and hockey player myself I understand the importance of team work to achieve the maximum results, which I also carry forward to assist council to do our best for Collingwood.

Bio: I am currently serving my fifth term as a municipal politician in the Town of Collingwood, where I was born, raised and never left.  I am a mother of two adult married children and Noani to four beautiful grandchildren.  I have served in many leadership roles on Council including Chair and Vice-Chair of the Collingwood Police Services Board, Chair of the Development and Operating Standing Committee for multiple tenures, Hospital Board Member, and currently also serve as the Town’s alternate Simcoe County Councillor.  I was appointed to the Steering Committee, Small Towns Habitat - Collingwood World Summit in partnership with the Joint Urban Economy Forum and UN Habitat and to the COVID Economic Support and Recovery Task Force. As an elected official, I also serve nationally and internationally with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities as a National Director, chairing standing committees, working groups and task forces. I represent FCM as the National Board’s governance representative to the Jordan Municipal Support Program, FCM's only international program in the Middle East and also a Canadian Volunteer Expert serving the Partnerships in Municipal Innovation – Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL program) for FCM out of Ghana, West Africa. In my spare time I have volunteered locally for more than 40 years assisting many local organizations.

Bio: I have been a member of Collingwood Town Council from 1996-1999 and 2014 to present, and am Vice Chair of the Committee of the Whole. In my role as Councillor I sat on the Board of the NVCA for 4 years and presently sit on the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Small Urban Caucus and the Board of Directors of Ontario Small Urban Municipalities (OSUM).  My focus and priorities are Growth and Sustainability, Environment and Climate Change, Affordable Housing, and Active Transportation. I am also on the Board of the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust Foundation.  I was an Advertising Account Manager for Corus Entertainment for 20 years and retired in 2019. Previously, I established, owned and operated Duncan's Gourmet (now Duncan's Cafe) for 10 years, selling it in 1998. I am an avid cyclist and skier, golf just well enough not to quit forever, and am married to George, living happily with a pair of four-leggeds.

Bio: Born and raised in Collingwood, I am a proud husband to my wife Jennifer and father to my 3 children. I am a previous employee of the Town of Collingwood where I dedicated 12 years to the Public Works Department, working on Infrastructure, Winter Operations and General Maintenance. I spent many years as Health and Safety Rep and CUPE Local 1217 Vice President. I have been a dedicated volunteer in Collingwood, coaching minor hockey, minor baseball, sitting on the Collingwood Minor Hockey Executive with 3 years as President. I have a strong passion for helping people. I care about everyone and understand the daily challenges living and raising a family in Collingwood. My family roots run deep dating back to the late 1800’s, I look forward to serving the public while fulfilling by duty as Town Councillor.

Bio: My wife Liz and I have three children and five grandchildren. Sports and volunteering are my passions. In 1976, I began coaching in Collingwood Minor Hockey and soon after joined the CMHA Executive (1978-1995). I was a Board Member of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (1998-2022), becoming its longest serving President. I also volunteered for community service clubs, as a member of the Collingwood Legion, Br. 63, and the Kinsmen Club of Collingwood. Since 2006, I have been on the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Receiving numerous local and provincial awards, the two I am most proud of are the 1995 Order of Collingwood, and my induction into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

Bio: I spent four years on Collingwood’s Police Services Board (2014-2018) followed by another four years on the Committee of Adjustment (2018-2022). I was also a member of our town’s Poet Laureate Selection committee and have served as an official “fence viewer”. I ran unsuccessfully for council in 2018 and again in 2022. I have been a Chartered Mediator for over 23 years and work with individuals, organizations, and families in conflict. I still practice and specialize in family estate facilitation. I am married with two grown daughters and a noisy dog.

Bio: My wife Linda and I bought our house in Collingwood in 2010. I fell in love with the town when I was on high school ski trips and always said I would live here some day. I have 4 grown children and 2 grandchildren. This is my first term on council and am a very vocal advocate for trails and active transportation. My interests include biking, hiking, golf, skiing and most outdoor activities. My career has involved many years as a business owner, working in the manufacturing sector and as a manager in a large retail operation. I am currently on the Collingwood Public Library Board as well as the Collingwood Economic Development Roundtable.

Cindy and I moved our young family to Collingwood in 2009, drawn by a better quality of life to raise our three kids. Over the years, I’ve volunteered with several community groups that support youth programs and believe strongly in contributing to organizations that promote active, healthy lifestyles for youth.  I’m a keen cyclist and trail advocate. I ride and walk our dog often on local trails, and I’ve seen what an important asset they have become.  We need to keep building on that success—ensuring appropriate and safe active transportation routes around our community for everyone. I have a keen interest in the potential future of a Multi-Use Recreational Facility, that will support people of all ages stay active, connected, and well.

I am a small business owner in Collingwood and before starting my business, I worked in commercial real estate across Canada. With a background in business and property operations, project management, and market analysis, I think I can bring a well-rounded perspective to my role as Councillor. Collingwood is growing and evolving. I am passionate about responsible planning that respects Collingwood’s history while building a vibrant and sustainable future.