Luke Charbonneau will again hold the position of Chair for Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA). Charbonneau was re-elected to the position at the SVCA’s annual meeting January 13.

Luke Charbonneau, Deputy Mayor of Saugeen Shores has been re-elected to the position of Chair for the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA).

Saugeen Conservation (SVCA) held their annual meeting on Friday, January 13. The SVCA has 15 member municipalities within their watershed jurisdiction, an area of 4,632 square kilometres (1,788 square miles) and is one of 36 Conservation Authorities across Ontario.

Chair Charbonneau thanked the Board for his re-election. “This year we will continue to take action in support of our mandate to protect and improve this watershed while striving to better serve the needs of the public and our member municipalities,” he said. “I am looking forward to a busy and productive year and I am very optimistic about what we can accomplish as a Conservation Authority in 2017.”

In a January 16 media release, others re-elected to their positions were 1st Vice-Chair Dan Gieruszak, Municipality of Brockton; 2nd Vice-Chair Maureen Couture, Municipality of Kincardine; and Member-at-Large Kevin Eccles, Municipality of West Grey.

Among the special guests attending the meeting was MPP for Huron-Bruce Lisa Thompson. “I’m very pleased with the direction that Saugeen Conservation has taken throughout 2016. They’ve done an excellent job of balancing the needs of the community with sound conservation practices. They have also taken a positive step in fostering added relationships with local groups such as the agricultural sector. I wish them continued success in 2017,” she said.

The SVCA Board unanimously approved the 2017 Budget with an increase of only 1.4 percent in the General Levy portion, which makes up less than half of the total budget.