West Perth, Ontario

This article is about the township in Perth County, Ontario. For the similarly named town in Lanark County, see Perth, Ontario.
West Perth
Municipality (lower-tier)
Municipality of West Perth
West Perth
Coordinates: 43°28′N 81°12′W / 43.467°N 81.200°W / 43.467; -81.200Coordinates: 43°28′N 81°12′W / 43.467°N 81.200°W / 43.467; -81.200
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
County Perth
Formed January 1, 1998
Government
  Mayor Walter McKenzie
  Federal riding Perth—Wellington
  Prov. riding Perth—Wellington
Area[1]
  Land 579.42 km2 (223.72 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 8,919
  Density 15.4/km2 (40/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code N0K
Area code(s) 519 and 226
Website www.westperth.com

West Perth is a municipality in Ontario, Canada, situated in Western Perth County, just west of the city of Stratford. The former town of Mitchell and townships of Logan, Hibbert, and Fullarton all amalgamated into one large municipality on January 1, 1998. Municipal offices, administration, and services are based in Mitchell.

History

Town of Mitchell

In 1837 a log building was built along Huron Road marking the first settlement in the area. By 1842, this building had been replaced by a hotel and new settlers and business had located in Mitchell which was eventually incorporated as a Village in 1857 and a Town in 1874. By 1901, the population had grown to 2,200 and in 1918, a multiple room Public School was built to house students from the growing population.[2]

Logan Township

In 1827, Logan Township was named after Hart Logan, a director of the Canada Company. The first settler to Logan township arrived in 1836. It began to grow considerably when British pioneers arrived in the 1850s.[2]

Township of Hibbert

The Township of Hibbert was named after William Hibbert, a director of the Canada Company. The first settler arrived prior to 1840. Although the township was slow in settling, the local economy was strong as a result of fertile soil, growing industry and access to transportation. One room school houses were in operation until the 1960s after which students began bussing to centralized public and separate schools.[2]

Fullarton Township

Fullarton was named after John Fullarton, a director of the Canada Company. The first settler arrived in 1832 and later opened a sawmill. Settlers from Alsace-Lorraine, England, Ireland and Scotland arrived and the town began to expand by the 1840s. By 1870, the population had reached 3,000 and was service by seven schools, a number of churches, and booming businesses.[2]

Municipal Restructuring

As part of provincial initiatives in the late 1990s, the Government of Ontario pursued a policy of municipal amalgamations to rationalize municipal levels of government services and "reduc[e] government entanglement and bureaucracy with an eye to eliminating waste and duplication as well as unfair downloading by the province".[3] On June 26, 1997, an order from the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs for the amalgamation of the former Townships of Logan, Hibbert, Fullarton and the Town of Mitchell into the Township of West Perth received Royal assent. The amalgamation came into effect on January 1, 1998.[4]

Communities

Mitchell is the largest community within the municipality. Smaller communities include Bornholm, Brodhagen, Dublin, Fullarton, Russeldale, St. Columban and Staffa.

Demographics

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19968,907    
20019,129+2.5%
20068,839−3.2%
20118,919+0.9%
Source: v

According to the 2011 census, the Municipality of West Perth had a population of 8,919 people, a 0.9% increase from the 2006 population of 8,839.[5] Children aged 9 and under account for approximately 13.3% of the population, while the percentage at retirement age (65 and over) is approximately 15%. The median age is 39 years of age.[5]

According to the 2011 National Household Survey, 6.3% of the population have immigrant status. The most common countries immigrants come from are the Netherlands (34.2%) and the United Kingdom (19.8%).[6]

According to the 2011 National Household Survey, the majority of residents of West Perth are members of a Christian faith and account for 84.6% of the population. The remaining population (11.8%) reports no religious affiliation. Of the Christian population, the largest religious affiliation is Roman Catholic (28.2%) followed by Lutheran (22.6%), United Church (21.4%), Presbyterian (8.9%), Anglican (3.8%), Pentecostal (1.6%), Baptist (0.8%) and other Christian (12.2%).[6]

Economy

According to the 2011 National Household Survey, the largest economic sectors by number of workers employed are manufacturing (800 workers); health care and social assistance (660 workers) and construction (445 workers). Other industries in the region employing more than 200 workers are wholesale trade, retail trade, and transportation and warehousing.[6]

The average income reported in the 2011 National Household Survey was $36,525 with an average after-tax income of $31,711.[6]

Government

Local Government

The Municipality of West Perth is composed of 11 members including a Mayor, Deputy Mayor and 9 Councillors. Council positions are held for a four-year term. Councillors represent the wards of Fullarton, Hibbert, Logal and Mitchell.[7]

Township operations are overseen by the Chief Administrator's Office and municipal departments include Building and Zoning Services, By-law enforcement, Finance & Treasury, Fire Service, Garbage/Recycling, and Public Works.[8] As of September 2015, the Chief Administrative Officer is Jeff Brick.[9]

Township Council 2014-2018[7]

Position Name
Mayor Walter McKenzie
Deputy Mayor Doug Eldt
Councillor Cheryl Matheson
Councillor Annamarie Murray
Councillor - Hibbert Ward Barb MacLean
Councillor - Hibbert Ward Nicholas Vink
Councillor - Logan Ward Larry Wight
Councillor - Logan Ward Dean Trentowsky
Councillor - Mitchell Ward Joe Klumper
Councillor - Mitchell Ward Bob Burtenshaw
Councillor - Mitchell Ward Mike Tam

County Government

Because West Perth is part of the upper-tier municipality Perth County, Ontario, it has representation on the County Council. The Perth County Council is determined by a restructuring order that came into force on January 1, 1998. Under this order, the Perth East has two members appointed to the County Council.[10] West Perth Mayor Walter McKenzie and Deputy Mayor Doug Eldt serve as West Perth's representatives on County Council.[11]

Provincial Government

Perth—Wellington is a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since the 2007 provincial election. It was created in 2003 from parts of Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey,Perth—Middlesex and Waterloo—Wellington ridings.

It consists of the County of Perth, and the Town of Minto and the townships of Mapleton and Wellington North in the County of Wellington.[12] As of October 6, 2011, the MPP for the riding is Randy Pettapiece.[13]

Perth—Wellington
Assembly Years Member Party
Riding created from Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey, Perth—Middlesex and Waterloo—Wellington
39th  2007–2011     John Wilkinson Liberal
40th  2011–2014     Randy Pettapiece Progressive Conservative
41st  2014–Present

Federal Government

Main article: Perth-Wellington

Perth—Wellington is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 2004. It was created in 2003 from parts of Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey,Perth—Middlesex and Waterloo—Wellington ridings.

It consists of the County of Perth, the City of Stratford, the Town of St. Mary's and the Town of Minto and the townships of Mapleton and Wellington North in the County of Wellington.[14]

Parliament Years Member Party
Perth—Wellington
Riding created from Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey,
Perth—Middlesex and Waterloo—Wellington
38th  2004–2006     Gary Schellenberger Conservative
39th  2006–2008
40th  2008–2011
41st  2011–Present

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "West Perth, Ontario (Code 3531025) census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "History". Municipality of West Perth. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
  3. Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. 1994. The Common Sense Revolution. Toronto: Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
  4. "Municipal Restructuring Activity Summary Table". www.mah.gov.on.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  5. 1 2 "Census Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "National Household Survey (NHS) Profile, 2011". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  7. 1 2 "Council". Municipality of West Perth. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
  8. "Administration". Municipality of West Perth. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
  9. nurun.com. "West Perth hires new CAO". The Mitchell Advocate. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  10. "Perth County • Cultivating Opportunity • Council Composition". www.perthcounty.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  11. "Perth County • Cultivating Opportunity • Council". www.perthcounty.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  12. "Perth-Wellington". www.elections.on.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  13. "Legislative Assembly of Ontario | Members (MPPs) | Current MPPs | Randy Pettapiece, MPP (Perth—Wellington)". www.ontla.on.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  14. "Perth–Wellington | Maps Corner | Elections Canada Online". elections.ca. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
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