Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith and his years of public service were celebrated at an event at Lakeshore Recreation in Port Elgin September 21.

Hub Staff

As Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith finishes his final weeks in his elected position, dignitaries, community members, colleagues, friends and family gathered at Lakeshore Recreation, September 21 for an informal 'come and go' event to honour his years of public service.

Smith, who was born in Southampton and went to high school in Port Elgin, has lived all his life in Saugeen Shores. He worked 34 years for Ontario Hydro at the Bruce Nuclear Power Development and started his political career in the Township of Saugeen in 1985, serving nine years as a municipal councillor, six years as deputy mayor for the Town of Saugeen Shores and 12 years as mayor. He also served twice as Bruce County Warden.

The evening's Master of Ceremonies, Saugeen Shores Chief Administrative Officer David Smith, said that Mayor Smith embodied what mayoral means. “I've worked with lots of elected officials and you certainly rise to the top of them,” he said. “To me, being mayor means being a leader with compassion for all citizens, it means making balanced decisions, it means leading the other elected officials, it means supporting the collective will of council, it also means, close to home, supporting staff.”

David said that every mayor has their own style and their own successes. “Yours, both of them, your style and your successes, have been extraordinary,” he said, adding that Mayor Smith embodied the effective balance of family, leadership and community service.

Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb told guests there had been tremendous growth and opportunity in Saugeen Shores over the last several years. “You have to have people on council who are practical, reasonable and down to earth to make good decisions for everybody and your mayor has done that time and time again,” he said.

Ontario Minister of Education and Huron Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson said she quickly learned how much Mayor Smith loved the community of Saugeen Shores. “I came to learn how calm, cool and collected this gentleman is when he is addressing municipal issues and I have learned from him,” she said. “It's a demeanor, it sticks with a person when you see an individual navigate tough waters all the while sharing a vision and a calmness that makes everybody want to get on side," she said.

Addressing Mayor Smith's family, Thompson said “Saugeen Shores is an amazing place to call home and a place to work in because of what your husband and your father has done through the last couple of decades,”

Town of Saugeen Shores Clerk Linda White called Mayor Smith “a very special man," adding that they had worked together for the past 24 years. “During this time I have learned so much, she said. “He leads by example, he has a wealth of knowledge and so many contacts in all levels of government and through various industries," she said.

White explained that the Mayor and Clerk were responsible for signing bylaws and she had calculated that they had signed over 1,200 bylaws in the last 12 years. “Mr Mayor, that is a lot of decisions that you have led us through and by no means were they all easy decisions," she said.

White said that over the past three terms of council what she had observed from each council member was something that could be described in one word: respect. “Respect for our leader, Mayor Smith, respect for Mayor Smith's knowledge, experience, his deep loyalty to his community and to his council; his ability to negotiate and mediate, to represent the town at local, county, provincial and even international level, all while being extremely humble, fair and kind,“ said White. “Mayor Smith is a special and truly a one of a kind leader in our community.”

Mayor Smith thanked everybody for the support they had shown him over the years. “I really believe, and I say it everywhere I get a chance to speak about Saugeen Shores, this is the best community in Bruce County, this is the best community in Southwest Ontario,” he said.

“I think we're poised right now, this next council and former council, to see this community provide opportunities for all kinds of people,” said the Mayor. “We've built a base that I think that we're going to see all kinds of opportunity for young people, for businesses, for people who want to retire, for people who just want to come here and visit," he said.

With advice to new council members and praising Town Staff Smith said, “I firmly believe anybody that gets involved in council does it for the very best of reasons but when you get there you're going to face a whole bunch of challenges and what I would say to them is, depend on your professional staff,” he said. “Respect your professional staff, let them do their job, let them show you how they can make this community good.”

Mayor Smith gave thanks to his wife, Donna and his family. “You give up a lot when you spend so much time away from your family,” he said, and congratulated Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau on his acclamation to become the next Mayor of Saugeen Shores. “I'm looking forward to seeing you lead this community and I'm sure you'll do a great job," he said.

A tree will be planted and a bench placed at Jubilee Park in Southampton in recognition of Mayor Mike Smith's commitment to the community.

Town of Saugeen Shores Clerk Linda White said Mayor Mike Smith was a one of a kind leader in the Saugeen Shores community.

Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith stands with Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau. Charbonneau will soon take over Smith's role.

Guests gathered at Lakeshore Recreation September 21 for an informal 'come and go' event September 21 to honour Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith for his years of service.

Sat with his wife Donna and his family, Mayor Mike Smith (right) listens to Town of Saugeen Shores CAO David Smith who was the evening's Master of Ceremonies.

Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb speaks to guests at a recognition ceremony for Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith.

Ontario Minister of Education and Huron Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson was at Lakeshore Recreation in Port Elgin to recognize Mike Smith for his years of service. to the community of Saugeen Shores.

Guests listened to Mayor Mike Smith as he speaks to them about his time on Council.