Here is the first in our series of candidate profiles sprinkled in with some questions relating to planning and development and growth in Grimsby. All Ward and Mayoral candidates were emailed a short questionnaire last week and sent a “last call” reminder email before the deadline. Each day will feature one of Grimsby’s four municipal wards, with answers from the Mayoral candidates as a wrap on the series.
Today’s post takes a look at who is running in Ward 1 and their take on the GCFRG questionnaire. Responses were received from two of four candidates, Delight Davoli and Reg Freake, there was no reply from Brian Drost or Kevin Ritchie. The candidate profiles are presented in alphabetic order by surname, as they will appear on your ballot.
Don’t forget, you can vote for two candidates for Ward Councillors!
And here are the candidates:
Delight Davoli
Occupation: FCPA (Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant), CA (Chartered
Accountant), CFP (Certified Financial Planner), RRC (Registered Retirement Consultant)
Running In: Ward 1
Living In: Ward 1
Brian Drost
No photo provided
Occupation: No response
Running In: Ward 1
Living In: No response
Reg Freake
Occupation: Retired Business Executive, Incumbent Councillor Ward 1
Running In: Ward 1
Living In: Ward 1
Kevin Ritchie
No photo provided
Occupation: No response, Incumbent Councillor Ward 1
Running In: Ward 1
Living In: Ward 1
And here is how the candidates answered our questions…
Q: What is the most important experience or skill set you can bring to Council if elected/re-elected?
 Delight Davoli | My father was a Director in a municipality. That piqued my interest in government and accounting, resulting in a large part of my accounting career in municipal accounting/auditing. Financial reports speak to me and I will help my fellow councillors understand them and use data analysis for better decisions. |
| Brian Drost | No response from the candidate. |
 Reg Freake | Past 4 years as Councillor for Ward-1 which gave a close-up insight into municipal governance and the importance of community input. I have 50 years of business experience nationally and internationally; many years of political and community service; customer relations; served on business/community boards. |
| Kevin Ritchie | No response from the candidate. |
Q: Do you believe in the concept of responsible growth? If yes, please explain your definition of responsible growth as it relates to Grimsby?
Delight Davoli | When considering growth and development, I believe that each property owner should be free to build, renovate, etc. their land until what they are proposing to do interferes with their neighbour’s use or enjoyment of their property. Growth needs to be compatible with the neighbourhood around it using this principle. |
| Brian Drost | No response from the candidate. |
Reg Freake | Responsible and sustainable growth must be used simultaneously. It must include long term planning (20+ years) where sustainable MEANS attainable and maintainable infrastructure, and responsible MEANS environmental protection of heritage and nature while maintaining the character of our community. Inclusion of our community and partners is an underlying factor. |
| Kevin Ritchie | No response from the candidate. |
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge or hurdle facing the Town in terms of planning and development and how would you solve it?
Delight Davoli | We have an Official Plan yet developments are proposed that exceed our limits. The million dollar question is why this Town keeps losing every time a Council decision is appealed to the OLT (Ontario Land Tribunal). It’s time to meet with our MPP and his associates and understand the why. |
| Brian Drost | No response from the candidate. |
Reg Freake | The biggest challenge will be aligning and managing Grimsby’s growth while trying to accommodate Ontario’s Bill-109 (More Homes for Everyone) while most developers push the envelope for maximum intensification. A new council must listen to our residents and guide planning staff and partners to do what’s right for Grimsby. |
| Kevin Ritchie | No response from the candidate. |
Q: Council recently passed a Secondary Plan for Grimsby Beach, including recommendations for further policies to protect this area’s special character and its heritage. What do you see as next steps and how would you action them?
Delight Davoli | The action plan called for a number of traffic and parking improvements to be completed in the summer of 2022 and they have not been done yet based on my walk-around there. So one of the first things is to ask for a status update and then push for completion. Park improvements were highlighted with the report calling for action in 2023. We will need to make sure that budget 2023 keeps its promise. After that, the priority for Grimsby Beach should be for any items that deal with safety and heritage. |
| Brian Drost | No response from the candidate. |
Reg Freake | To ensure adequate bylaws are installed to protect what was agreed in the secondary plan. The Beaches also require a program to protect properties from shoreline erosion, heritage tree protection, infrastructure upgrades, floodplain protection and financial heritage assistance and protection from inappropriate future development. Another important issue which requires attention is the lot lines which were established more than 100 years ago and need to be clarified. The Beaches Community is very special and holds some of the most historic sites on the shores of Lake Ontario and we need to ensure they are published and protected for future generations. |
| Kevin Ritchie | No response from the candidate. |
That’s all for Ward 1 candidates…. Ward 2 readers, your candidates are in the bullpen warming up for tomorrow’s post.