Blake Ellis/The Independent

The race to fill the seat left vacant after the resignation of Councillor Mary Lynne McCallum has drawn more interest than full municipal elections normally do in Enniskillen.

Township councillors will choose a new councillor Monday from one of six people vying for the position.
The five member council has been acclaimed in the last three elections.

Jason Armstrong, Renee Ethier, Corey McKinnon, Terry McNally, Brian Taylor and Tim Williams are all listed as candidates. Administrator-Clerk Duncan McTavish says one of the six candidates for the vacant seat is considering withdrawing their nomination.

Each candidate had to fill out a nomination form as well as submit a one-page personal statement of qualification for council members consideration.

After councillors choose the successful candidate, the oath of office will take place before the meeting ends.

Enniskillen council had no appetite for holding a by-election, pointing to the cost and the fact there is less than two years left in the term with elections to take place in October 2026.

According to the Ontario Municipal Act, a vacant seat has to be filled with 60 days of council accepting a resignation.

Council accepted McCallum’s resignation on Jan. 13, which started the clock ticking.
McCallum served on Enniskillen Township council for 14 years, but cited a lack of communication around the council table and her frustration with a recent compromise reached with Enniskillen Produce at the Ontario Land Tribunal as the reason for her resignation.

“I just find the communication at this level is just horrific, and I just need to know the information before I can make an informed decision, and I don’t always get that, and its very frustrating,” McCallum told The Independent in December. She said the deal with Enniskillen Produce at the Ontario Land Tribunal was simply the last straw for her.

The special meeting will be Monday at 4:30 pm in the council chambers.