Today’s the day.
It was on this day 10 years ago that the Walkerton water tragedy started to unfold when e-coli entered the town’s water system.
Through it all 7 people lost their lives and thousands of others became sick–many of whom are still dealing with problems today.
Brockton Mayor Charlie Bagnato says he was running the liquor store in Walkerton at the time and was thinking of retirement rather than getting into politics.
But that weekend, he was struck with irritated bowel syndrome which he describes as cramps that make you hit the floor.
As the water issue unfolded, Bagnato became more outspoken about it and that fall ran for a councillor’s seat in the municipal election and was successful.
The rest is history and Mayor Bagnato says the water tragedy is history as well.
Bagnato says the town’s residents have moved on and the community has become stronger as a result of the events that unfolded.
He says today, Walkerton is a town with a future.
Bagnato says their industrial park is growing, which includes the now world renowned, Clean Water Centre which has provided education to thousands of people responsible for providing clean drinking water for their respective communities.
He says Walkerton’s downtown is bustling with only one or two storefronts that are empty.
He says Walkerton is on top of the world, doing great, and looking forward to the future.