Natasha Salonen officially sworn in as Wilmot’s first female mayor

Wilmot officially has a brand new mayor.

Natasha Salonen is the township's first female mayor and the first new mayor in 12 years.

She was sworn in at the inaugural meeting Monday night, along with a fresh slate of councillors.

Speaking to council for the first time, Salonen pointed out increasing division in the Wilmot community.

“Personally, I noticed it as a slight hum in the background that over time, has grown into glaring difficulty that weighs on me now as mayor,” she said. 

In the same breath, Salonen called on residents to come together.

“Just because we may have different ideas to get there, does not mean that we divide. Through honest, open, and frank conversation, we will use our different opinions to our advantage,” she said.

“We need to discern difference of opinion from difference of value and recognize that we as a community can, will, and should have varying opinions, but that we do share common values.”

She named these as free speech; the respect of everyone's rights; living in a place of safety and abundance; and family, connection, and community. 

Salonen urged residents to engage to make sure decisions made reflect the whole community.

“With external pressures of growth, regional goals, ongoing provincial changes in the way that we operate and govern local government, increasing cost of living, and general global economic uncertainty, I ask for all in the community to voice to our council how we can navigate forward through these tumultuous waters together,” she said. 

Salonen took over the reins from former mayor Les Armstrong, who faced controversy after he shared a video on social media containing the words: “White lives matter,” which he apologized for. 

Wilmot voters also passed over two incumbents to vote in all new councillors—Stewart Cressman, Kris Wilkinson, Harvir Sidhu, Lillianne Dunstall, and Steven Martin.