It is rare that you get a chance to honour a person with the very words they used to honour you, but I am going to go that now for outgoing Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison.
Council Chambers was packed last night for a special ceremony to thank Jim for his decades on Council and three terms as Mayor, as he helped oversee a time of transformation for his home municipality and the entire region.
Next year will be the first in Quinte West history without Jim at the Council table, a seat he brought with him from the former Murray Township where his political career began.
Over the years, he has been a supportive and often driving force behind many of the region’s biggest events.
The formation of Quinte West itself, the integration of the wards, the creation and ongoing growth of the YMCA, the Trent Port Marina, the transition to OPP service and so many other changes have happened under Jim’s watchful eye. Very little, if anything, happens in Quinte West without Jim knowing about it and bragging about it for all to hear. His signature line “Quinte West is the best” are always memorable, like other words he once said to me.
When I briefly retired a few years ago to run for council myself, Jim presented me with a plaque which includes the inscription, “You are regarded with great esteem by your peers and have shown a continuing commitment to keeping the public informed and for that we are truly grateful.”
Today, let me say, right back at ya buddy! Take a knee, you have earned it and then some. I shall miss our early morning chats more than you know.
Jane, finally, he is all yours!
I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines
