Chief Community Builder at 13 Ways Inc., Author of 13 Ways to Kill Your Community and professional speaker. Griffiths opens up the evening with some inspiration for our future community leaders.
Jack Lucas
Associate Professor in Political Science at the University of Calgary. Project Director for the Canadian Municipal Barometer, an annual survey of mayors and councillors across Canada.
Ken Seiling
Former Mayor of Woolwich Township, first elected to Region of Waterloo Chair in 1985 and retired in 2018. Ken is coming out of retirement to share his insight on what it takes to serve the public.
Jeff Smith
Township of Woolwich Clerk. To get on the ballot you'll have to visit your municipal Clerk's department to make it official. Get all the information you need to make your campaign official.
Melissa Durrell
Head of her namesake public relations agency. Her passion for communication has led her to a career in politics. She served 2 terms as the elected official at the City Waterloo. Melissa is known for her aggressive leadership style and a “make it happen attitude”.
Rod Rolleman
North Dumfries Township Councillor Ward 1, Ayr. First elected to office in 2014.
Patrick Merlihan
Woolwich Township Councillor for Ward 1, Elmira. First elected to office in 2014.
Shelley Wagner
Wellesley Township Councillor for Ward 1, Wellesley. First elected to office in 2006.
Angie Hallman
Wilmot Township Councillor for Ward 1, New Hamburg. First elected to office in 2018.
Inga Rinne
Woolwich Healthy Communities Chair. Inga is honoured with hosting duties introducing our speakers and keeping the evening moving along.
Irene Schmidt-Adeney
Irene Schmidt-Adeney has been the writer/report/editorialist for the Ayr News since 2011.Her weekly editorial 'Ayring the News' provides the vehicle to express her opinion on a variety of topics, something that she considers both a privilege and a commitment to her community.
Helen Hall
Helen Hall is the editor of the Ayr News. Helen and Irene will serve as panel moderators for our Q&A with local politicians.
PANEL DISCUSSION WITH LOCAL POLITICIANS
Q&A: On the Job
Moderators:
Irene Schmidt-Adeney & Helen Hall, The Ayr News
Irene and Helen from will lead this panel of politicians through a series of questions to explore aspects of the job. Hear about some challenges of public life and what they see as essential qualities for this leadership role. We will take your questions in the chat.
Ken Seiling, Past Chair Waterloo Region
Patrick Merlihan, Woolwich Township
Shelley Wagner, Wellesley Township
Angie Hallman, Wilmot Township
Rod Rolleman, North Dumfries Township
Registration is required for this one-of-a-kind event.
Open to all interested members of the public. The focus of the presentation will aim to encapsulate the life of a working politician in the Waterloo Region's rural townships of Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot and North Dumfries.
