Caledon councillors Nick de Boer and Lynn Kiernan will not seek re-election this fall, bringing their long tenures representing rural communities to a close.
The councillors announced their decisions on their personal Facebook pages within a day of each other, the Caledon Citizen reported. De Boer has represented Wards 3 and 4 over the past 23 years, while Kiernan has served Ward 1 for eight years.
De Boer reflected on his work representing rural Caledon and agriculture, both on council and in dealings with other levels of government. He also acknowledged the municipal staff and fellow councillors he has worked alongside during his time in office.
His departure from elected office will not end his community involvement. In his Facebook post, de Boer said he intends to continue volunteering in Caledon, something he has done for more than 40 years, and help raise the fifth generation on his family’s Caledon farm.
Kiernan raises planning concerns
Kiernan’s announcement combined appreciation for Ward 1 residents with concerns about development, the protection of rural land and the way municipal decisions are made.
She pointed to a group of 12 zoning by-laws introduced together, a proposal that would permit Swan Lake to be filled in, and other proposals she said could substantially change Caledon’s rural landscape.
Kiernan argued that these planning matters would have lasting consequences for the town’s character. She said she believes development has been given greater priority than the natural environment, farmland and the rural qualities of Ward 1.
She also questioned the openness and accountability of some municipal decision-making, saying residents need to be adequately informed and have meaningful opportunities to participate.
“I have also been deeply concerned by a pattern of decision-making that has not always felt as open or accountable as it should be,” Kiernan wrote on her personal Facebook page, as reported by the Caledon Citizen.
In the same post, Kiernan urged residents to weigh the next four years carefully when voting in the upcoming municipal election. She said the choices made in that election would have consequences for Caledon that would be difficult to reverse.
Kiernan thanked Ward 1 residents for their involvement, advocacy and commitment to the community throughout her tenure. She said she was leaving elected office grateful for the opportunity to serve and hoped she had upheld residents’ trust by defending the community.
Neither councillor’s announcement, as reported by the Citizen, identified a preferred successor.
