Gail Ardiel of Blue Mountains acclaimed NVCA chair

News release from NVCA

UTOPIA, Ontario (January 29, 2018) – Gail Ardiel, Deputy Mayor for the Town of the Blue Mountains, will head the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) in 2018.

Deputy Mayor Ardiel, an apple orchard owner and retired child care service provider, was acclaimed chair of the board at the NVCA’s 58th Annual General Meeting on January 26, 2018. Deputy Mayor Ardiel has sat on the board for eight years, and served for four years as vice chair. In addition to her role at the NVCA, Deputy Mayor Ardiel is involved with the Ontario Small Urban Municipalities and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and sits on Grey County Council.

In her acceptance remarks, Deputy Mayor Ardiel complimented her fellow board members for their commitment to building efficiencies at the authority. She commented on the opportunities for NVCA coming from the recent updates to the Conservation Authorities Act, particularly with regard to establishing long-term, stable sources of funding.

Keith White, Councillor for the Township of Essa, was acclaimed to the position of vice chair. In his remarks, Councillor White noted the growth pressures facing the watershed in the coming years, and stressed the importance of NVCA’s role in ensuring the effective management of watershed resources.

Doug Lougheed, Councillor for the Town of Innisfil, stepped down from the position of chair, and will serve as the past chair for 2018.

NVCA board members are appointed by 18 watershed municipalities in the counties of Simcoe, Dufferin and Grey. Returning to the board is Mayor Darren White of Melancthon Township, who replaces Councillor James Webster.

The board governs the authority, a public agency decide to protecting, enhancing and restoring the Nottawasaga Valley watershed to support a healthy environment, communities and lifestyles.