John Divinski. (supplied photo)
Saugeen Shores has filled the town’s vacant seat at the council table.
Council voted at a special meeting held via Zoom on Monday to appoint John Divinski, 77, to the Southampton ward seat vacated by John Rich, who stepped down this past summer.
Divinski secured the four votes needed to win the council seat appointment on the second ballot in a field of more than 10 people vying for the position.
The 77-year-old is a former radio journalist who retired on August 31 from the company that owns this website, Bayshore Broadcasting. Divinski worked for the company for 16 years and spent the past decade as a reporter primarily covering Bruce County for several Bayshore Broadcasting radio stations, including 560 CFOS, Mix 106.5, Country 93 and 97.9 The Bruce.
“Having covered council since 2011, I am familiar with council protocols and procedures,” Divinski says. “There’s still a learning curve that I’m going to have to go through, but at least I have that and I can really hit the ground running.”
Divinski says he is eager to serve and to look out for and “protect the uniqueness” of the Southampton ward.
“That’s very important to me,” he says.
Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau, Deputy Mayor Don Matheson and Vice Deputy Mayor Mike Myatt supported Divinski on the first ballot. He received the support of Coun. Cheryl Grace on the second ballot to secure the seat.
Town council resolved on Sept. 27 to fill the Southampton ward seat by appointment. Divinski will serve the remainder of the council term ahead of next year’s municipal elections in Ontario, scheduled for Oct. 24, 2022.