Former Orillia mayor Don McIsaac appointed Simcoe County chair

Former Orillia mayor Don McIsaac has been appointed chair of Simcoe County by the Ontario government.

McIsaac is replacing outgoing Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke in the role.

The appointment was announced Nov. 10 by Rob Flack, Ontario’s minister of municipal affairs and housing, as part of appointments naming heads of council for eight upper-tier municipalities across the province.

McIsaac served as Orillia’s mayor for one term before leaving municipal office and will now oversee Simcoe County’s regional council.

The province said the appointments will strengthen regional leadership and help address housing and infrastructure needs in some of Ontario’s fastest-growing communities.

Flack said the appointments will help provide needed leadership at the regional level.

“Ontario stands at an important juncture. As we navigate geopolitical challenges and create the conditions for growth, strong leadership at the regional level is more important than ever,” he said.

“These appointments reflect our confidence in local leaders who bring a deep understanding of their municipalities and a proven record of performance and public service.”

Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North and minister of emergency preparedness and response, congratulated McIsaac on his appointment in a social media post.

“Throughout his time as Mayor of Orillia, Don has been a strong champion for his community and the people he serves,” she said.

“I look forward to continuing to work together as he brings that same dedication to communities across Simcoe County.”

The province said the appointed chairs will work to strengthen cooperation between municipalities, support responsible growth, streamline decision-making and improve the delivery of regional services.

In addition to Simcoe County, the province announced chairs for Durham, Halton, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York regions, as well as Muskoka District.