On December 13, South Glengarry Deputy Mayor Martin Lang was inaugurated as the new Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SDG) Warden for the upcoming year. Lang is replacing North Glengarry Mayor Jamie MacDonald who has held the position since December 2023.
In front of a full chamber with some chuckles from the attendees, Lang was welcomed with applause as Councillors Carma Williams and Lachlan McDonald symbolically escorted the new warden to his chair.
Councillor Tony Fraser spoke on the significance of the warden’s position and the responsibilities the title comes with, “The golden chain of office we now place on your shoulders, being circular in form, shows that our warden was chosen from the circle of councillors who compose the council of these counties.”
Fraser continued, “Investing you with it designates you not only as our chief official when we are in session here but also, that we place on you the responsibility of honourably representing this council at any other public functions where we are represented.”
Senator Bernadette Clement passed along her best wishes and highlighted, “I know how connected you are to the community, and I know how much you love your community. I know that that’s going to show in all of the work that you’re going to do.”
Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry Member of Parliament Eric Duncan delivered remarks. “One of the challenges we have in public life today, in all levels of government, is making sure that we have good people stepping up to serve in leadership roles. I am grateful that these folks and this gentleman have stepped forward to serve our community,” Duncan said.
Other elected officials who delivered remarks to the new warden included Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry Member of Provincial Parliament Nolan Quinn and Mayor of Cornwall Justin Towndale.
Lang closed off the inauguration by stating, “Council has placed a great deal of trust in me, and I’m humbled to serve as your warden. I will do this to the best of my abilities; I have big shoes to fill.”
