Mayor's Address
On December 4, 2018, the current South-West Oxford Council was sworn in. While the majority are returning members, we do have two new faces. As Mayor, I am pleased to welcome Councillor Peter Ypma and Councillor Craig Gillis to this term of Council. While it is a great honour to serve the public as your Council, it is also a great responsibility. The role of Council is to not only oversee the daily operations of the Township, but also to help define the future of the community.
Over this term of Council, we will face a number of challenges. Current infrastructure (roads, bridges, halls, and parks) need to be maintained or enhanced to meet current expectations. We also need to improve connectivity through improved broadband and transportation options. Public engagement is also a priority, because an engaged community keeps the elected accountable. While Council's role is to provide leadership, the public's role is to keep Council transparent, informed, and accountable.
Governance is about balancing the social, economic, and environmental realities with the needs of the community. We cannot neglect one at the expense of another. Our quality of life depends on the careful weighing of the benefits and costs of diverse possibilities. While some people choose to put added emphasis in one area or another, good governance requires that all aspects are carefully considered before direction is set. As a result of basic human preference and bias, it is impossible to meet the demands of all the people all the time. But that is not the role of Council, because we are here to lead the community forward and to address each challenge based on its merit and impact for this and future generations. I know this Council will live up to its responsibility, and I sincerely hope the public does as well.
- Mayor David Mayberry
| Mayor David Mayberry |
|
David graduated from University of Guelph in 1974 with a degree in Agriculture. He later became involved with the Canadian Food Grains program in 1983 as a volunteer and donor, helping to bag corn at a local elevator. David also job shared with his wife Catherine the position of Ontario Resource Coordinator of the Canadian Food Grains program for 17.5 years. David was also a director of Oxford Mutual Insurance for 12 years, and was involved with Scouts as a leader for 20 years in Salford which then formed a club in Sweaburg. David has travelled to Kenya, Ethiopia, Nicaragua, and Honduras as well as North Korea, and led the Canadian Youth Tour to Nicaragua and Honduras. In 1994, David began serving as a South-West Oxford Township Councillor and then was elected Mayor in 2006, followed by serving as the Warden for the County of Oxford for 4 years between 2014 and 2018. David proudly drives an electric car and is very supportive of renewable energy. Contact Mayor Mayberry484006 Sweaburg Road, Ingersoll, ON, N5C 3J7 |
| Ward 1 Councillor: Paul Buchner |
|
Contact Councillor BuchnerPhone: 519-550-2138 |
| Ward 2 Councillor: Peter Ypma |
|
A 20-year tenure with the Brownsville Fire Department began in 1996. During those years, Pete also volunteered his time on the board of the Christian Elementary School the children attended in Aylmer for 2 terms, and at Tillsonburg Christian Reformed Church where he continues to be actively involved with Charlena and the children who are still at home. A decision was made in 2009 to convert the family farm from pigs to chickens, and the Ypma’s have been producing hatching eggs on the edge of Culloden ever since. When not working or volunteering, Pete can occasionally be found riding his motorcycle, dabbling in woodworking, or watching football on TV. “God has blessed our family richly over the years, and I thank Him for giving me the opportunity to serve in the role of Councillor. I look forward to working with the rest of Council, staff, and the residents of South-West Oxford to make this Township the best that it can be.” – Pete Ypma Contact Councillor Ypma292624 Culloden Line, Brownsville, ON, N0L 1C0 |
| Ward 3 Councillor: Valerie Durston |
|
Valerie currently serves on the following committees of Council for South-West Oxford: Salford Community Hall Board, Hilltop Park Mount Elgin, South-West Oxford Environment and Energy Innovation Committee, and Tillsonburg Regional Airport Advisory Committee. Valerie values the importance of family, friends, the community, and the environment. Valerie is very involved in the community, sitting on the Board of Directors for the Salford Community Hall and Park, the new park in Mount Elgin Subdivision, Chair of the Engage and Inform Committee, a member of the Township Environment and Energy Innovation Committee, and a board member of the Tillsonburg Airport on Airport Road in South-West Oxford. As a local leader with roots in the direct Ward she represents, Valerie’s passion is serving and building community. In Valerie’s spare time, she is heavily involved with an international club called Toastmasters; a speech and leadership club. Valerie has taken the Leadership Track, winning awards and presently is the Area Director for Woodstock, Tillsonburg, and St. Thomas, empowering individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. One of Valerie’s greatest accomplishments since, serving in Municipal Office, is advocating for the installation of a gas supply line from Natural Resource Services. A natural gas supply line is being installed down the west part of Salford Road to Culloden Road then to Ebenezer Road. The supply line will join up with the gas line coming from Verschoyle. In time, the supply of natural gas will be available to most homes and farms in Ward 3, up to Dereham Line. Affordable heating is something that most residents have dreamed of for years, and now it is coming in the wake of the Canadian renewable energy campaign. A cheaper source of heat is good but a cleaner and renewable source of energy is better, and reducing greenhouse gases is the best way to go for our future. Energy derived from renewable sources provides a good clean source of energy which will help reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. According the Honorable Glen Murray, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is not the product from the year 2000. It is the product of carbon dioxide levels from the 1960s and 70s. Now, in 2016, we are over 1400 parts per million of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and we will experience the impact for another 20 to 30 years. It takes 40 to 50 years for carbon dioxide to cycle through and concentrate the atmosphere. We are locked in now, and there is nothing we can do but reduce our carbon imprint. “An effective Councillor will have a vision beyond the moment regardless of the depth of the situation.” - Author Unknown Contact Councillor Durston343541 Ebenezer Road, Mount Elgin, ON, N0J 1N0 |
| Ward 4 Councillor: George Way |
|
I grew up on the family dairy farm south of Ingersoll. I am 1 of 6 children. My parents were Currie and Dorothy Way. I attended Grade 1 at SS No. 2 in West Oxford. Grades 2-6 were at Folden's Public School, and Grades 7-8 were at Victory Memorial Public School in Ingersoll. Grades 9-12 were at Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute in Ingersoll. I am a graduate of Fanshawe College where I received my diploma as a motor vehicle mechanic. After graduating from Fanshawe, I worked at Fred Wilford's Garage in Salford for six years before coming home to farm with one of my brothers. My brother and I bought the family farm from our parents and started Dairy Way Farms Ltd. in 1984. We farmed together for 25 years and, in 2009, we sold the cows and the quota. We currently rent out the farmland and the buildings. I keep busy these days going to car shows throughout Southwestern Ontario in my 1931 Model "A" Ford. Tammy and I enjoy spending time together going to antique shows, memorabilia and nostalgia shows, and at least a couple of weeks in Florida during the winter. Other interests I have are attending Sprint Car Races in Ohsweken, Ontario and Ransomville, New York. Back yard BBQs and pool parties with family and friends is another way of spending my time in retirement. Another interest I have, according to Tammy and "the boys", is my backroad tours in the truck with my dog, Berta, and a cup of Tim Horton's coffee. Oh well, life is short! Make the best of it doing things you enjoy! Contact Councillor Way523866 Curry Road, Ingersoll, ON, N5C 3J7 |
| Ward 5 Councillor: Jim Pickard |
|
Contact Councillor Pickard20 Wilkins Drive, Woodstock, ON, N4S 7V6 |
| Ward 6 Councillor: Craig Gillis |
|
Craig moved to Beachville shortly after starting at the farm in 2004 and married his wife, Tanya, in 2006. The couple have two young children which keep life busy and always interesting. Craig has coached and helped with the kids' sports teams in the past, trying to encourage the love of sports he has in them. In 2009, Craig joined the South-West Oxford Fire Department out of the Beachville Station. It has been very rewarding to him to help the community in this role. He is active at community events the Fire Department is involved in. Craig was elected Beachville Fire Association President, in 2011, and still holds that role today. Craig knows he is opening up to a new challenge as a Councillor, and is happy to represent Ward 6 and South-West Oxford to the best of his abilities. Contact Councillor Gillis10 Oak Street, Beachville, ON, N0J 1A0 |
Born and raised in Oxford County, on Sweaburg Road, David is a 6th generation farmer with his son now taking over the operation (7th generation). David and Catherine have 4 grown children and 7 grandchildren.
Paul was born and grew up in the Brownsville area. After graduating from the University of Guelph, he returned home to pursue his love of working in agriculture. In partnership with his brother Chris, and their families, they have grown Elmwold Farms Ltd. to 470 head of Holsteins and 850 acres. Paul and his wife Ruth now reside in Delmer, having moved in 2017 from the farm to make room for the next generation. Since stepping down from the SWOX Fire Service after twenty five years, Paul spends his time serving on the Gay Lea Co-Operative Ltd. Delegate Advisory Board and Chair of Zone Two. He is also involved with Avondale United Church Council and enjoys pursuing his hobbies of golf, curling, bee-keeping, and amateur theatre. He continues to be involved with the farm but is working on spending more time with grandchildren and traveling.
Pete was born in St. Catharines, Ontario. A move in 1974 brought him within a mile of South-West Oxford Township on Maple Dell Road, and a second move in 1985 made him a full-time resident of the Township. A year after graduating from Fanshawe College with a Farm Business Management diploma, in 1990, he and Charlena married and took over the family pig farm at Ostrander Road and Culloden Line. There they have raised their 5 children: Catherine, Brandon, Brittany, Megan, and Matthew.
Valerie Durston is the Ward 3 Councillor for South-West Oxford serving her second term in office. Valerie spent most of her working career serving the public as a Developmental Service Worker followed by a Criminal Justice Worker. She continues to engage with people and programs in social services, helping people achieve better outcomes in their lives. Her past community involvement, and present commitment as Ward 3 Councillor, have given Valerie a broad perspective for community engagement through collaboration and respect for all community members. “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much” -Helen Keller.
Hello, I'm George Way, Ward 4 Councillor for the Township of South-West Oxford. I have been a resident of SWOX, and the former West Oxford, for 58 of my 59 years. Married to my wife Tammy, we are the parents of two sons; Brady and Brian.
Jim represents the Sweaburg area and lives in the village of Sweaburg with his wife Janet. He is a member of Sweaburg Parks and Recreation Committee. Jim has retired from Farm Credit Canada, and currently is the chair of the Township's Environment and Energy Innovation Committee. Jim also represents the Township of South-West Oxford on the Rural Economic Development Corporation and is a member of the Sweaburg Lions.
After graduating from the University of Guelph in 2002, Craig began working as herdsperson for Wilmarlea Farms Ltd., in Embro, in 2004. The farm today milks 160 Holsteins three times a day, and is recognized for its high production and management score yearly.