Perth South Mayor and former Perth County warden Jim Aitcheson has died, each municipalities introduced on Friday.
Revealed Nov 22, 2024 • 3 minute learn
Perth South Mayor and former county warden Jim Aitcheson has died. Beacon Herald file photograph
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Perth South Mayor and former Perth County warden Jim Aitcheson has died, each municipalities introduced on Friday.
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The information got here after Aitcheson, a longtime municipal politician, took a depart of absence from each councils final month. A reason behind demise has not been disclosed.
Aitcheson first stepped into public workplace when he was elected a councillor for Perth South’s Downie Ward in 2006. He served as a councillor for the municipality for roughly 16 years till he was acclaimed as mayor within the 2022 election.
Aitcheson additionally served on Perth County council for 13 years, together with a productive stint as warden from 2019 to 2022.
Appearing Perth South Mayor Sue Orr, who had labored with Aitcheson for the previous six years, described the late mayor as a mentor who “became a friend.”
“Jim didn’t sugarcoat news. He was also very prepared to ask the difficult questions and make difficult decisions, and it’s leadership. Jim had leadership qualities,” Orr mentioned.
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Aitcheson had a long-term imaginative and prescient for Perth South that he labored diligently to realize, Orr added.
“(He) really did stand strong on keeping farmland protected and (for) farmers’ rights. He really took pride in keeping taxes low, and he loved a good paved road, and it was even better when we got a deal on paving the roads,” she mentioned.
Present Perth County Warden Rhonda Ehgoetz, who served as deputy warden below Aitcheson, mentioned it was an “honour to work alongside him.”
“His voice and presence will be greatly missed around the council table,” she mentioned within the county press launch.
Orr mentioned a byelection is not going to be referred to as. Council will as an alternative be inviting members of the general public to place their names ahead and, following interviews with the candidates, council will appoint a brand new member. Orr will function Perth South’s mayor for the remainder of this time period. The following municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 26, 2026.
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“We are all hurting currently, but he would want us to move ahead. Jim was really good at reading a room, and he always did his homework,” Orr mentioned.
Flags will likely be flown at half-mast at each the county courthouse and the township’s administrative workplaces in St. Pauls till the day of the funeral.
Past his public service, Aitcheson had a profession as a banker at Victoria and Gray Belief earlier than he bought his mother and father’ farm in 1984. Aitcheson was additionally a member of the Optimist Membership of Downie the place he was concerned within the building of the pavilion within the St. Pauls Park in 1994.
Aitcheson was married to Lori and was father to a few kids, Tracey, Kelly and Greg. In a social media put up, Kelly Byers described her dad as a “staunch advocate for mental health,” notably for paramedics who could also be battling a few of the pressures of the vocation, and shared an e-mail she acquired about his advocacy.
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“Aitcheson was always concerned about the mental health of the community and our paramedics,” the put up mentioned.
“He worked with local politicians and health partners to engage the province and invest in our newly implemented Mobile Mental Health Program . . . His guidance and approach to mental health translated into council’s investments into Perth County paramedics’ mental wellness through training, peer support, and ensuring accessibility to resources. Under Jim’s leadership, tens of thousands of persons have been taken care of, and we are a healthier community both physically and mentally as a result.”
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