A local Lion is ready to jump into the political ring.
Gavin Maclean, a 17-year veteran and Past President of the Bradford Lions Club is running for Ward 3 councillor in Bradford West Gwillimbury. He’s also served as Region 8 Chair and Zone 8 Chair for the Lions Club.
“I feel that these experiences have given me an idea of what it is like to work with people who have the same goals in sight,” he said.
Maclean and his wife have lived in Bradford West Gwillimbury for 23 years while they raised their daughter. For the past 18 years, while working with a drywall company, Maclean has been an active member of the community.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maclean could be found preparing lunches at the Bradford and District Memorial Community Centre for those in need twice a week or volunteering with the Helping Hand Food Bank. He was part of the start-up group for the Out of the Cold Café and helps to prepare the dinners served Friday nights at the Orville Hand Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, where he is also a member, serving on the Trillium and Ways and Means Committees.
Fridays can be busy for Maclean, as he's one of the volunteers responsible for cooking the weekly meal at the Bradford United Church. He’s also in the kitchen at the church at Christmas time, which isn’t his only important job during the holidays. For the past five years, he’s been Santa’s “representative” at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Santa Claus Parade.
To no surprise, in 2020, he was named Volunteer of the Year for the town.
“Volunteering gives me a great feeling of helping the members of BWG while being on Council would take it to the next level,” Maclean said. “Helping on a much larger and long-term scale, that’s my reason for running for council.”
He’s been visiting residents around his ward to gauge what they’re looking for from their council. After driving around Ward 3, he has his own idea as well.
“Important issues that I have heard while out visiting homes in Bradford include trying to keep taxes low and working with developers to maintain sustainable growth while preserving our heritage,” he said. “As a joint effort with council one of the first things I would like to accomplish is proper road maintenance in the ward.”
While his experience isn’t explicitly in municipal politics, Maclean feels he is more than qualified based on his years of community service in Bradford West Gwillimbury and can bring fresh ideas to town hall.
“I am a new face with new ideas, ready to help BWG move forward,” he said.
Maclean can be contacted through Facebook or by email at [email protected].
Also running in Ward 3 are incumbent Gary Lamb and Ben Verkaik.
Election day is Oct. 24.
