North Dundas’ own Tony Fraser has been acclaimed as the 2023 Warden-elect of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Tony recently re-claimed his seat as Mayor of the Township of North Dundas when he ran unopposed in the October municipal election. Due to his role as Mayor of North Dundas, he has automatically been a member of Counties Council since 2018.
According to a release obtained by the Times, Mayor Fraser said he is looking forward to advancing the interests of SDG Counties in 2023. “It is my commitment to serve as Warden in the upcoming year to the best of my ability with fairness, honesty and integrity,” he said. Mayor Fraser was nominated for the role by North Glengarry Mayor Jamie MacDonald, with North Stormont Mayor Frank Landry seconding the nomination. Council decides every autumn who will sit as Warden for the coming year. Typically, the vote takes place in October, but every four years the vote is delayed by the municipal election.
The Warden acts as the leader of Counties Council, ensuring order and efficiency in the upper tier Council meetings. The Warden role for the United Counties of SD&G was plagued with dishonour early in 2021 when Frank Prevost, the South Glengarry Mayor who was serving as Warden at the time, was charged with child luring and sexual assault of an adult. At that time, now retired North Dundas Deputy Mayor Al Armstrong was asked to take over as Warden, and he remained in that role for the remainder of 2021.
For 2022, North Glengarry Deputy Mayor Carma Williams was elected as SD&G Warden. Her election was the first time since 2008 that a woman held the Warden’s office. That is when Estella Rose – another North Dundas name who was serving as Deputy Mayor locally at the time, filled the role.
With the most recent announcement of Mayor Fraser’s appointment, North Dundas is clearly well-represented at the Counties Council table. Mayor Fraser will be officially sworn-in as Warden on December 2.
