• Councillor Maurice Smith is preparing to retire after 12 years representing Ward 2 on Whitchurch-Stouffville’s Council.
  • Smith is helping organize an Oct. 5 debate that will bring all five Ward 2 candidates together at Ballantrae Community Centre.
  • He said the debate will give residents an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates and assess their qualifications before voting.
  • Traffic and pedestrian safety improvements have been among Smith’s most consequential accomplishments during his time on Council, he said.
  • Looking ahead, Smith says responsible housing development and expanding the Town’s commercial and industrial tax base will remain important concerns.
  • The departing incumbent hopes to remain involved with the Town and community after leaving office.

 

Maurice Smith is preparing to leave Stouffville’s Council after 12 years representing Ward 2. His final weeks in office are giving him one more opportunity to participate in the election process, as he works with Mayor Iain Lovatt to organize and present an Oct. 5 debate featuring all five candidates hoping to replace him.

The effort, he said, aims to encourage attendance and provide an opportunity for his constituents to hear directly from the candidates.

“Residents need to see and hear, first hand, of the candidates and their qualifications,” he told Bullet Point News. “It’s important they learn as much as they can, and not just what is written in a brochure.”

The incumbent, first elected in 2014, pointed to traffic and pedestrian safety improvements as among the work he considers most consequential during his tenure.

Smith highlighted the installation of traffic signals at Ninth Line and Aurora Road, which he described as long overdue. He also referenced sidewalks installed along Aurora Road that provide a safer route for children walking to and from Ballantrae Public School.

He also mentioned planned sidewalks along the east side of Highway 48, which will further expand the network.

Looking back on his time in municipal government, Smith said one of the biggest lessons was understanding just how long it can take for projects to advance.

“It takes an incredible length of time to have projects reviewed and implemented,” he explained, adding that it can be “very difficult” for people entering public office from the private sector.

Although he is stepping away from Council, Smith said he does not necessarily intend to leave public life. He left open the possibility of continuing his work on the Stouffville Library Board, and said he may apply to the Committee of Adjustment while continuing to pursue his own business interests.

As for the ward he is leaving behind, Smith said responsible housing development will be an ongoing concern. He pointed to the Ballymore Homes subdivision on Highway 48 as an example, and noted that continued growth in Ward 2 will need to be managed.

Smith also said Stouffville should continue working to expand its commercial and industrial tax base, which would help avoid over-reliance on residential taxpayers.

His decision to retire leaves Ward 2 with the only open Council seat in Stouffville’s 2026 election. Before it can be filled, however, Smith is helping deliver on one of his final initiatives as an elected official: giving residents a chance to hear directly from the people competing for his place at the dias.

The debate will be held tonight at the Ballantrae Community Centre from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Smith will be in attendence, and candidates will be available following the event for a meet-and-greet with residents.