Mayor Alex Nuttall is invoking his strong mayor powers to issue a proclamation celebrating the career achievements of Barrie’s general manager of community and corporate services, Dawn McAlpine.
“To be here for he retirement feels like coming full circle,” said Nuttall during Wednesday’s council meeting. “Dawn was the person swearing me in when I was a student mayor [in 2003] and when I was first a city councillor, too.”
McAlpine, who will officially retire on November 29, was hired by the city’s municipal works department as a waste reduction trainee in 1991. Two years later, she was hired in a full-time waste reduction role. In that position, she was responsible for the introduction of recycling bins and waste paper compost boxes.
After three more years with municipal works, McAlpine transferred to another role as a temporary economic development officer, a position that was made permanent in 1998.
In 2001, she became a city clerk’s assistant. The next year, McAlpine was named as a deputy city clerk. A decade later, she was promoted to the role of director of legislative and court services.
She has served in her current position since 2017. Last year, McAlpine received $236,016 in compensation, making her one of Barrie’s best-paid public employees.
“Everybody in this room, every person, looks to you for your leadership and your wisdom,” the mayor added. “I don’t think there’s a way we can actually say ‘thank you’ enough. But we [can] try.”
Using his office’s strong mayor powers, Nuttall proceeded to issue a proclamation that officially declared McAlpine a “pillar of the corporation” with an “encyclopedia brain” who would be “missed by everyone.”
In some Ontario municipalities, mayors are invested with special powers known as strong mayor powers. These include the ability to appoint a municipality’s chief administrative officer and municipal directors. They also allow mayors to create new council committees and appoint their chairs and vice-chairs. Barrie’s mayor was given these powers by the province in 2022.
Mid-way through his speech, however, Nuttall announced he was unable to continue. He deputized Michael Prowse, the city’s chief administrative officer, to finish the delivery.
The mayor also presented McAlpine with a framed copy of the special proclamation.
“Thank you all for the wonderful words, the resolution and all of this. I’m overwhelmed. It’s been a great opportunity to serve the community, the council and the corporation. It’s been an honour,” said a tearful McAlpine. “It’s been a wonderful 33 years.”
