By Matt Weingarden
After 40 years of community service, former Ward 6 councillor Linda McKinlay has decided to step away from municipal politics and retire.
McKinlay was elected to the Town of Lakeshore council in November 2010 and has served 12 years as Ward 6 representative. Linda is no stranger to politics, having been elected to the former Tilbury West council in the late 80’s through amalgamation in 1999.
Since amalgamation she has chaired the Municipality’s Committee of Adjustments and served a long-time association with the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, where she acted as chairman of the board for eight years.
“Linda has been a mentor to me. She welcomed me in 2014 and instantly shared both her wealth of knowledge and her absolute commitment to the Municipality of Lakeshore,” said Lakeshore mayor and friend Tracey Bailey. “Linda can articulate perfectly her love for Municipal politics and the difference that can be made at the local level. Her passion for local politics is addictive. Eighty percent of the services residents use every day are Municipal services. Linda remained connected on issues like no one else I have seen. She engaged the community and always ensured that your voice was heard.”
The oldest of three children, Linda was born and raised in Leamington. After completing her education at St. Mary’s Academy with a degree in voice, and George Brown College with a degree in accounting, she settled briefly in Toronto, but moved back to Comber to be near her mother, Sally Myles, after her father’s death. Her husband Mark followed soon after, and they were married in 1977.
Mark adopted Linda’s two children, Stacey and Julie, and he and Linda added two more children to the family – Erin and Daniel.
While her children were young, she was active as a Brownie leader, member of the PTA and coaching baseball – along with managing a full-time career with Mastronardi Produce as an office administrator.
Linda was a very active member of the Comber Agriculture Society for over 25 years and is a current member of the Comber Chapter IODE serving as their president. Linda and Mark are long-time members of St. Andrew’s United Church and both have active roles within the Church community.
Over the years, their family has grown to include seven grandchildren living in Ottawa, Etobicoke, Edmonton and Vancouver and recently welcomed their first great-grandchild.
“While getting everyone together in one place can be tricky, this family manages to do so at least once a year,” joked McKinlay.
Mark and Linda are finding retirement to be just as busy as working and raising a family and are always looking for more hours in the day.
Of course, Linda’s commitment to bettering Lakeshore doesn’t end at the Council table. Linda can often be seen, with husband Mark, engaged in all types of volunteer activity.
She shares that she intends to assist Mark in his work supporting the Comber and District Historical Society Museum – keeping her active within the community.
“Linda is dear to me. She has become family. We talk regularly. She not only left a lasting mark on Lakeshore, she impacted me as well,” added mayor Bailey.
“I am so excited for her as she retires!”
“I want to thank everyone for the support and kindness they have shown me for so many years. It has been proven to me over and over again that working together we can accomplish so much. Although retiring will bring many changes to my life, I look forward to new challenges and experiences.” said McKinlay.
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