Introducing Your Members
of Council . . .
Mayor JIM ABERNETHY
Mayor Jim Abernethy is serving his first term as Mayor of the Municipality of Clarington, having been elected to the position in November, 2006.
Mayor Abernethy is married to Cathy. They have two sons and are the proud grandparents of three granddaughters.
He has had three successful careers prior to entering the political arena. The first was that of a Golf Course Superintendent, including Assistant Superintendent at The National Golf & Country Club in Woodbridge. Mayor Abernethy’s second career was in the Real Estate Industry where he rose to the position of Vice President & Regional Manager with Royal Lepage Real Estate Services. In 1987, Mayor Abernethy left Royal LePage to found a family business. Together with his wife, they successfully grew Ste. Anne’s Pure Spring Water Company into the 4th largest bottled water company in the GTA. In 1999, Jim and Cathy sold Ste. Anne’s to the Danone Group, which allowed them the opportunity to work closely with their sons who have developed businesses of their own -right here in Clarington!
Mayor Abernethy is the Chairman of the Administration, Finance and Corporate Service Departments at the Municipality of Clarington.
He is also a member of the Clarington Museum & Archives Board, the Newcastle Arena Board and the Orono Arena Board.
Mayor Abernethy is a member of the Board of Directors of Veridian Corporation, of which Clarington is a shareholder.
At the Region of Durham, Mayor Abernethy is a member of the Finance and Administration Committee.
Mayor Abernethy is also a member of the Canadian Association of Nuclear Host Communities.
Send an Email to Mayor Abernethy
Regional Councillor MARY NOVAK
(Wards 1 & 2)
Regional
Councillor Mary Novak is not new to municipal politics having
spent 9 years on Clarington Council as a Local and then Regional
Councillor. She is a life long resident of Clarington (Courtice).
Mary is committed to keeping Clarington taxes low without
sacrificing core services. She has stated that Clarington
needs to create a positive business environment in order to
support continued growth of employment and entrepreneurial
opportunities in Clarington.
At Regional Council, Mary is a member of the
Planning Committee, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority
(CLOCA), the Durham Trail Coordinating Committee and the Durham
Transit Committee. At the local level, Mary is the Chair of
the Planning & Development Services Department and is
the Council Liaison to the Clarington Heritage Committee (formerly
known as LACAC), the Solina Hall Board and the Darlington
Site Planning Committee. She is also a member of the 407 Community
Advisory Committee and will become a member of the Veridan
Corporation's Board of Directors as of January 1, 2009.
Send an Email to Regional Councillor Novak
Regional Councillor CHARLIE TRIM
(Wards 3 & 4)
Charlie
was born and raised in the community of Starkville. He lived
in Bowmanville for many years and then returned to Starkville
in 1996. He attended Bowmanville High School when it was located
on Queen Street.
The world of politics (all levels) has always fascinated him and he followed local politics for many years before seeking the local Ward 4 seat in 1997. When he was first elected as Regional Council (2003) he took early retirement from Goodyear Canada Inc. (Bowmanville Plant) to devote his full time to his regional responsibilities.
With four successive victories, he feels much has changed since his first meeting in 1997. Charlie realizes that there are many challenges facing Clarington Council this term but states the issues are quite simple - high taxes and public satisfaction with core services. At the Region of Durham, Charlie is the Chair of the Works Committee and a member of Durham Region Transit, Durham Region Non-Profit Housing, the Joint Residual Waste Group (with York Region) and the Development Charges Complaint group. At Clarington Council, Charlie is the Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Operations Department. He is the Council Liaison to the Clarington Library Board, Newcastle Community Hall Board and the Ganaraska Conservation Authority. He is also the Mayor's Liaison to the Port Granby Project.
Send an Email to Regional Councillor Trim
Councillor ADRIAN FOSTER (Ward 1)
Adrian
is starting his second term as Local Councillor for Ward 1
(Courtice). He is a University of Toronto graduate and began
his career as an Investment Advisor in 1984.
Adrian and his wife Deborah moved to the Courtice community
in 1992 to raise their family - sons Lee and Josh. At this
time, Adrian successfully created a community oriented financial
services business which he continues to operate. Adrian is
the author of a number of informative columns - such as Money
Talks and Dollars & Sense - which appeared
in local newspapers.
Within the community, Adrian has been and continues to be
an active member of many local volunteer boards and organizations.
He is a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Courtice and
he is a past President and Director with the Clarington Board
of Trade.
This term Adrian is the Chair of the Engineering Department
and is Council Liaison to the Solina Hall Board; Friends of
Second Marsh; Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority
(CLOCA); Darlington Site Planning Committee; Clarington Traffic
Advisory Committee (Road Watch); and the Clarington Public
Library Board. He is also on the Board of Directors for Veridian
Corporation (until December 31, 2008).
Adrian believes that Clarington is unique and he is committed
to working with the community to realize the huge potential
that we have while preserving the wonderful blend of urban/rural
that we all enjoy.
Send
an Email to Local Councillor Foster
Councillor RON HOOPER (Ward 2)
Ron
is starting his first term as Local Councillor for Ward 2
(Darlington/Bowmanville). He is a lifelong resident of Bowmanville
and one of the first graduates of Durham College's Marketing
program. He is President of Hooper's Jewellers (a family operated
business since 1945) and the former Chair of the Historic
Downtown Bowmanville and served on the Board of Management
for almost 20 years. Ron is also a Founding Member and Past
President of the Clarington Board of Trade.
In the jewellery business, Ron is the Past President of the
Canadian Jewellery Buying Group (which involves more than
100 retail jewellery stores across Canada) and a Director
on the Jewellers Vigilance Committee of Canada which is an
organization that regulates the ethics of the jewellery trade
in Canada.
Ron and his wife of 36 years, Joan, live in the Bowmanville
area and have 2 daughters and three grandsons. He has and
continues to be involved with many local sports organizations
- hockey and baseball and is actively involved in the local
music industry.
Send
an Email to Local Councillor Ron Hooper
Councillor WILLIE WOO (Ward 3)
Willie is one of the four fresh new faces on Council. Clarington has been “home” for the Woo family for the last 53 years. His parents came here as first generation immigrants and operated a restaurant for almost 30 years. The Woo family was welcomed with dignity and respect into the village and the family melded into the fabric of the community. This sense of community has left an indelible impact on his life and has defined his long history of being involved in the area and the genuine concern for the Community and its residents. Willie is employed locally by Goodyear Bowmanville Plant, a 200 + employer, and understands the importance of strong Economic Development and the benefits it has for our community to “Work where you live and play.”
Willie is the Chair of Emergency and Fire Services as well as being the Council Liaison on the Tyrone Community Centre, Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Management Advisory Committee, Bethesda House Board, St. Mary’s Cement Advisory Committee, Visual Arts Centre Board, and Clarington Youth Advisory Committee.
Willie enjoys his time with his wife, Donna, and their 4 children and 2 granddaughters. They like to entertain with family and friends and have been know to “dance the night away.”
Send an
Email to Local Councillor Woo
Councillor GORD ROBINSON (Ward 4)
Gord
is a veteran municipal Councillor beginning his third term
as Local Councillor for Ward 4 (Clarke-Newcastle). As a lifelong
resident of Ward 4, living on and working the family farm,
Gord feels strongly about what happens within the Municipality.
He is committed to maintaining the high quality of life that
Clarington residents enjoy. Having been able to enjoy the
many opportunities that Clarington provides, he is committed
to promoting the Clarington advantages to others.
Councillor Robinson is the Chair of the Community Services
Department and is Council Liaison to the Agricultual Advisory
Committee, the Clarington Museum & Archives Board, Ganaraska
Conservation Authority, the Newcastle Arena Board, the Newcastle
Community Hall Board, the Newcastle BIA, Newtonville Hall
Board, the Orono Cemetery Board, the Orono Arena & Community
Centre Board, and the Orono BIA.
Send
an Email to Local Councillor Robinson
