Mayor’s Levee

Mayor Ferguson outlines Council priorities in final year of term

Mayor Steve Ferguson welcomed members of the public and officials from neighbouring communities to the New Year’s Levee held at the Prince Edward Community Centre on Sunday, January 4, where he reflected on the accomplishments of the past three years and outlined the priorities for the final year of this term of Council. The levee format was the same as last year’s, with indoor and outdoor family activities, hot beverages and treats provided by the Friends of the Museums, and free skating in the arena. Local firefighters were on hand to offer fire safety tips and to spread the word about the new Ontario requirement for carbon monoxide detectors to be installed in every level of a residence with fuel burning appliances, fireplaces, or an attached garage. There were activities for children including cookie decoration, making a pine cone bird feeder and learning all about birds from educator Cheryl Chapman. There were also local history displays from The County Museums and the Prince Edward County Heritage Conservancy.

Mayor Ferguson thanked all those who attended and introduced visiting officials, including MP Chris Malette, MPP Tyler Allsopp, Belleville mayor Neil Ellis, Belleville councillor Garnett Thompson, and Quinte West deputy mayor Jim Alyea. Former County councillors Mike Harper, Gord Fox, Monica Alyea and John Thompson also attended, as well as current councillors Sam Branderhorst, John Hirsch, Phil St-Jean, Kate MacNaughton, Bill Roberts, Dave Harrison and Brad Nieman. Mayor Ferguson thanked them for their dedication and commitment to serving Prince Edward County. “This is very tough work, requiring sacrifices at times,” he said. “As a group it’s rare that we see eye-to-eye on a particular item or concern, and we may disagree, but we try to do so respectfully without being disagreeable.”

Mayor Ferguson also thanked County staff for their work, noting that their efforts as a local level of government have the most immediate impact on residents’ lives on a daily basis. As an example, he referred to the dedicated work of the road crews in dealing with the snowfall on New Year’s Eve, ensuring the roads were safe for travelling.

This is the final levee for this term of Council, with municipal elections slated for this coming October. Mayor Ferguson said this term has been both challenging and rewarding. He said ripple effects from the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt six years later and that the actions of the US Administration over the past year have had a significant impact. “We will prepare for more flux, unpredictable threats and uncertainty in the future,” he said, adding that Council is committed to delivering safe and sustainable services across Prince Edward County in a cost-effective way. He said the Asset Management Plan, created last year, was used to inform the 2026 capital budget, and of particular note is $14 million for road reconstruction and rehabilitation. He is optimistic that progress will be made on the reconstruction of County Road 49. The provincial government has committed nearly $20 million to the project, and the County had set aside $7.8 million in the 2024 budget towards the projected $50.3 million cost. Discussions with the deputy prime minister’s office facilitated by MP Malette have been taking place to secure federal funding for the remaining cost. “We’ve never been closer to getting this done than we are now. With continuous pushing and advocacy, I’m confident we will cure the County Road 49 problem this year,” said Mayor Ferguson. Another roads project of note is the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of Highway 62 and County Road 1. Construction is expected to begin in 2027.

Mayor Ferguson also touched on a few other achievements of Council. After almost a decade of work, construction of a new longterm care home is underway, with a projected opening in 2027. The new hospital build is progressing on schedule, and the Campfire Circle Development—a camp for families of children with cancer—has been approved on Wesley Acres Road. The County Docs program under the direction of Adam Hambly has successfully recruited nine new physicians to the County. Together with an initiative to encourage physicians to expand their patient rosters, 1,750 County residents have been moved off the Healthcare Connect waiting list and now have a primary care provider. Mayor Ferguson said the municipality is committed to providing affordable housing, with a projected 400 units across six sites. Also on Council’s radar is affordable rental units.

This is the final year of this Council’s term of office, and Mayor Ferguson encouraged County residents to seriously consider taking part in municipal politics. “It is time to pass the torch, and the next group will seek to make Prince Edward County a better place work, live learn and play. On one hand, being on council may be the toughest work you’ll ever do, but on the other hand it will very likely be the most rewarding work you’ll ever do,” he said.

Athol councillor Sam Branderhorst is one of those people who took up the challenge of running for council in 2022. The young mother said it has been a life-changing experience. “You see the community in a completely different way. You see what municipalities really do, but you also see the needs of your community completely differently. It opens your eyes to all the different demographics in the County and what they need, and what that means to grow and move forward. That’s one of the best things about being a councillor. You get to have that inside track with the community. And it’s also really unbelievable how the community steps forward and embraces you,” she said. For Councillor Branderhorst, 2025 was a year when some big projects came to fruition. She said that progress has been made on the fate of the H.J. McFarland building, getting the funding for the roundabout on Highway 62 solidified, and bringing a number of road asset management projects forward. She is currently working on a project related to housing and is excited about releasing the news later this year.

She encourages residents to consider running in this year’s municipal elections. “If you really love Prince Edward County and have an open mind, if you’re willing to listen and have a conversation—and that’s what the community needs, rather than saying ‘I have this plan’— then I encourage you to run. We just need people to support the community,” she said.