• Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt is inviting residents to participate in his upcoming round of town hall meetings next week.
  • The events are open to the public and provide an informal setting for raising concerns, asking questions, and receiving updates on Town projects and policy direction.
  • The first town hall will be held on Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. at the Ballantrae Community Centre, 5592 Aurora Road.
  • The second will take place on Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at 111 Sandiford Drive.
  • Bullet Point News spoke with Mayor Lovatt about previous town halls and his goals for the third series.

 

“These were never done before here in Stouffville, and we started them because I wanted to fulfill a commitment to be accessible and listen to the needs of the community,” Lovatt said.

Next week’s events mark the third round of town halls hosted by the Mayor in the past two years. The meetings offer an open and unscripted forum where residents can voice their concerns and ask questions directly.

“It’s also a chance for people to vent, as we want to do our best to listen to real-life, on-the-ground problems that people are having … and address them as best we can,” Lovatt added.

The Mayor sees these events as an opportunity to provide transparency regarding challenges the Town may face in delivering on commitments and community priorities. This includes explaining delays that can arise from negotiations with other levels of government.

“A discussion from a Ward 2 meeting last year is a perfect example, as we talked about sidewalks along Aurora Road and up Highway 48 to Ballantrae Road. The plan was to have those done this summer, and I know we have some residents coming out who are disappointed that it hasn’t happened,” Lovatt detailed.

“The reality is that we have York Region and Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation to deal with when it comes to these projects, as those roads fall within their jurisdictions,” he said. “Sometimes things are out of our hands, and our highest aspirations to get things done fall short. Part of these town halls is the ability for me to own and explain that.”

During past meetings, residents voicing frustrations have not been muted. “I know people expect timely delivery on projects, and those residents have wanted sidewalks forever,” Lovatt noted. “I’m not bringing Town staff out; it’s more for me to take the shots if shots are fired.”

Last winter, Lovatt held a town hall in each ward with local councillors in attendance. “I didn’t have huge expectations regarding turnout, but I think we gained momentum as they went on—especially when people realized that anyone could come to any of the meetings,” he said.

He hopes to see continued growth in turnout next week and plans to bring back councillor-involved ward meetings in 2025.

The two events will not be livestreamed, but Lovatt is optimistic that the split schedule—offering both an afternoon and an evening session—will maximize participation. “I believe offering these opportunities is important, and I’ll continue to do it as long as I’m in this chair,” he promised.

“I don’t have an agenda apart from listening to residents’ concerns regarding anything that’s happening in the town. Like past town halls, I promise we will follow up with residents if I don’t know the answers,” Lovatt concluded. “Residents have issues that need addressing, and this is the best opportunity for them to come out and ask anything they want.”