Meet the people who will make up Wilmot Township's new council

There will be a whole new council in Wilmot Township next month when the people who won Monday's municipal election are sworn in.

Natasha Salonen will be the next mayor of the township, taking over for Les Armstrong who did not seek re-election. She beat current Coun. Jenn Pfenning in the mayoral race.

In Ward 1 and Ward 2, incumbents were defeated. The Ward 3 and Ward 4 races were open after current councillors didn't seek re-election for those seats.

The new councillors are:

• Ward 1: Stewart Cressman.
• Ward 2: Kris Wilkinson.
• Ward 3: Harvir Sidhu.
• Ward 4: Lillianne Dunstall and Steven Martin.

Mayor Natasha Salonen

Salonen was born and raised in the township. She went to the University of Oxford, but moved home in 2019 to help care for her father, who has ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). 

She worked for MPs and MPPs in Kitchener-Conestoga ⁠— she was endorsed by former MP Harold Albrecht. She also received endorsements from Armstrong and Wilmot Coun. Jeff Gerber, who did not seek re-election.

"I've learned a lot about the issues that Wilmot faces," she said during a mayoral panel with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

Most recently, she's worked for Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

In the community, she also is the current president of the Baden Optimist Club, sits on the Wilmot Agricultural Society, is a member of the Wilmot Homecoming steering committee and is a member of 100 Women Who Care Wilmot.

In an interview on election night, Salonen said she felt like her campaign resonated with voters who want "to get back to what's under municipal jurisdiction."

"With two candidates [for mayor], it was either more of what they'd already seen on council or something new, and a change with fresh new ideas," Salonen told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo on election night. "I believe the community is looking for some change out here."

Salonen said one of her priorities, once she gets situated in her new job, will be to improve communication between the township and the community "so that going forward any decision that we make is well communicated across the community and we can get strong input from all of our residents."

LISTEN | Natasha Salonen on why she thinks her campaign resonated with voters, what she's looking forward to working on in the next four years:

Ward 1: Stewart Cressman

Cressman describes himself on his campaign website as a "family-oriented farmer" who volunteered with minor baseball and hockey and is a church elder at the New Dundee Bethel Church.

He attended Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School, located between New Hamburg and Baden, and completed a master of science at the University of Guelph.

He says it's not surprising to see a council of new faces because four of six seats were open with the mayor and some councillors not seeking re-election.

"Since the election, many individuals have expressed best wishes and congratulations, however now the real work begins," he said. "Several hot button issues have to be addressed along with developing next year's budget in a time of high inflation."

Cressman said he's excited to get to know his new council colleagues and talk to township staff "so we can all work collaboratively on positioning Wilmot for future success."

Ward 2: Kris Wilkinson

Wilkinson says he's a lifelong resident of the region and has lived in Wilmot for two years, although "I've had it in my heart for the last nine years" as he proposed to his wife in the township and it's where they now live with their two daughters.

On his website, he called for the township to refocus its agenda "to address issues within our jurisdiction and not be preoccupied with outside concerns."

He also said he'd bring common sense decision making to the council chambers and "make decisions that will be beneficial for the majority of citizens. Practical and thoughtful decision-making without reacting too quickly and not just appeasing interest groups."

Wilkinson said he's not surprised by the full sweep of council because as he knocked on doors, he heard people say they wanted change, "in particular, representation and accountability."

He says while most phone calls this week have been to offer him congratulations and best wishes, he has also had a few concerned residents call him to talk about issues.

"I'm excited to get to know the new council and the township staff as well. I'm looking forward to getting to work and setting out our goals," he said.

Ward 3: Harv Sidhu

Sidhu grew up in Tavistock and has lived in Baden for the last 15 years. He previously worked as a correctional officer. He is now a small business owner ⁠— he owns Twice the Deal Pizza in New Hamburg. He's a member of 100 Men of Wilmot and the Baden Community Association.

On his website, Sidhu says his parents moved the family from Brampton to Tavistock in 1991, when he was four years old, and it was a culture shock for them to be in rural Ontario.

He says he's experienced racism and bullying behaviour from other children, but he credits his father with teaching him the importance of patience, communication and education.

After knocking on doors during the campaign, "it was clear there was a large appetite for change. Not just in my ward but the people really wanted to see a change in the entire council," Sidhu said in response to questions emailed to him by CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

He said since Monday's election, he's talked to people in the township daily and feels there's been an "overwhelmingly positive response" to the new council.

"They are looking forward to healing the divide we have seen in the past little while," he said.

Sidhu says he's excited to get down to work and meet with staff and the township's chief administrative officer.

"We have an opportunity to start building real and positive relationships with our community and business leaders and that is something I'm really looking forward to," he said.

Ward 4: Lillianne Dunstall

Dunstall is retired from working in business operations, customer service and relationship management.

She and her husband have lived in New Hamburg for more than three years. She's a member of the Wilmot Optimist Club, 100 Women Who Care Wilmot, New Hamburg Legion and sits on the executive of the New Hamburg Board of Trade. She is also the current chair of National Women in Roofing Canadian Council.

She says voters ushering in a brand new council doesn't surprise her.

"There were three common denominators for most of the people I spoke to at the door: They were tired, wanted change and they wanted new faces," she said.

Since the election, she says people she's spoken to have been very positive and as each day passes, she gets more excited to get down to work.

"I am looking forward to meeting the township team and learning. They are the ones that have the expertise in their departments and as councillors we depend on them to supply us with information to help make decisions," she said.

Dunstall said she's also pleased with the mix of people on council.

"We have a young, vibrant new mayor. We have young councillors with small children, one of whom is a visible minority, a farmer and some 'second halfers.' [I'm] excited about the future," she said.

Ward 4: Steven Martin

Martin says he's worked as a counsellor, psychotherapist and mediator for 30 years.

He moved to New Hamburg in 1998 and had previously lived in the town for a summer before then. He previously ran for council in 2018.

"I believe in the democratic process and want to support healthy discussion, a respectful process and raise concerns that people have about our community," he told CBC K-W in a candidate survey in the lead-up to Monday's municipal election.

He said he was surprised to see the whole council change in Monday's election, but "that is the thing about elections and democracy."

"Wilmot Township's voting turnout was higher than many elections in Ontario, but the results show that people wanted something different," he said.

In speaking to people after the election, he says he's heard from some people upset that incumbents were not re-elected.

"As a council, we are responsible to take the challenge and do our best in working for Wilmot Township," he said.

"Whether we are working on budget, spending, the environment, or other important issues, we have an opportunity to move forward. We can create new possibilities, sustaining the good parts, as well as appreciating the wonderful community that we have."