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Warden

• Warden

Simcoe County Warden

County Council is made up of all the mayors and deputy mayors of all 16 member municipalities. The warden is the head of government for the County and is elected by his or her peers on County Council. In 2010 County Council changed the County’s procedures to make the Office of Warden a two-year term. The warden is elected at an 'Inaugural Meeting' of County Council held in December in the first and the third years of every term of Council.

Some of the warden's responsibilities include:

• presiding over and acting as Head of County Council
• speaking publicly on matters affecting the County of Simcoe
• serving on external boards and agencies

Simcoe County was first known as Simcoe District. The first two wardens of Simcoe County were J.A. Irving who served in 1843 and James Dallas who served in 1844-45. Both these wardens were appointed to the position by the Crown. It was an Act of the Crown in 1841 that made the warden, clerk, treasurer, surveyor, and other officers nominees (appointments) of the Crown. Within a short time, amendments placed the appointments in the purview of the municipal councils themselves.

At the 'Inaugural Meeting' held December 14, 2010, Cal Patterson, Mayor of Wasaga Beach, was acclaimed to the position of Warden for a second time. The next Inaugural meeting will be held on December 22, 2012.

The Wardens of Simcoe County