Wawa Municipal Council will soon have a couple new members.
After hearing from four candidates to fill the seats formerly held by Yvan Besner and Tamara Liddle, Council has chosen to appoint Pat Tait and Julia Rowe as councillors - they'll serve out the remainder of the current term, which ends at the end of November.
Julia Rowe - a teacher at Michipicoten High School who has also served as acting vice principal at the school - says she is "really looking forward to the opportunity to represent the people of Wawa" and work with the other members of Council, emphasizing her ability to listen to people as a key part she brings to her new role.
Pat Tait - a former Algoma Ore Division welder who'd also worked at Weyerhaeuser, Wesdome, and Rentech - says it "feels good" to be appointed - noting he's been interested in joining council "for a while" and has "ample time" to give it his full attention, as he's now retired - but he notes his past work experience will help on Council.
Before announcing the resolution - which was passed unanimously - Mayor Ron Rody commended all four candidates (Rowe, Tait, Cathy Cannon, and Robert Reece), saying they all have "potential" to be councillors, and encouraging them all to run in the upcoming municipal election this fall.
Rowe and Tait are expected to be sworn-in during the April 10th regular meeting of Council.