To the Editor:
Over recent months, people have asked me a flattering question: “Why don’t you stand in the next municipal election?”
My answer is a firm no. I am in my 75th year. I believe those who will live longest with today’s decisions should have a strong voice in making them.
That belief leads me to a concern about local democracy.
At the time of writing, looking at those who have come forward for municipal office, I am struck by how many are retired or approaching retirement. I don’t say this to belittle their contribution. Retired people often bring experience, sound judgement and, importantly, the time required to serve. I have genuine admiration for anyone willing to put their name forward. Public service demands time and energy while exposing people to criticism that can become deeply personal.
But respect for those who stand should not stop us asking: do we risk too many older voices around the table?
Where are the parents raising families, the tradespeople, teachers, healthcare workers and younger professionals building their lives here? Where are those wrestling firsthand with childcare costs, housing affordability and the challenge of finding a home in the community where they work?
Perhaps the better question is not “Why don’t younger people stand?” but “What makes it so difficult?” Do our meeting schedules work for people with jobs and young families? Has public life become so unpleasant that good people look at the attacks directed at elected representatives and decide it simply isn’t worth it?
That last question troubles me most.
And yet there are encouraging signs. At the time of writing, five people have put their names forward for the two councillor positions in the Southampton Ward. I think that is healthy for local democracy. A genuine contest gives voters a real choice, brings different perspectives into the discussion and encourages debate about the future of the community.
I believe passionately in diverse representation and in every citizen’s responsibility to vote. What I find harder to accept is the armchair critic who hides behind social media, lobbing verbal grenades into public discussions with little knowledge of the subject and even less regard for the people being criticized. The loudest voice is not necessarily the majority voice. A social media thread is not a referendum.
My feelings on this are shaped by personal experience. I have lived and worked in a country under dictatorship. I have seen firsthand the contrast between the freedoms many of us take for granted and the oppression endured by people who cannot choose their leaders, challenge authority openly or remove governments peacefully through the ballot box.
That experience left me with a lasting respect for democracy, not because it is tidy or always produces the result I prefer, but because the alternative can be so much worse. For that reason, I passionately believe that every eligible voter should take part. If we want a voice in the future of our community, the most important place to exercise it is at the ballot box, not simply after the decisions have been made.
I also sometimes think about the United Kingdom’s 2016 Brexit referendum. Having come from the UK, the issue remains particularly relevant to me. Whatever one’s view of Brexit itself, the vote exposed a striking generational divide. Younger voters were far more likely to support remaining in the European Union, while older voters were more likely to support leaving.
My point is not whether Brexit was right or wrong. It is about democracy, participation and the long term consequences of decisions made at the ballot box. If younger people do not stand, do not participate and do not vote, decisions about their future will still be made, just without enough of their voices at the table.
This matters particularly now. Saugeen Shores faces major decisions over the coming decades. Growth, in my view, is inevitable. The key question is not whether we grow, but how well we manage that growth. Our greatest opportunity is to become an example of how a small community can embrace economic opportunity, environmental stewardship and community wellbeing while remaining true to its heritage and identity.
Port Elgin is already changing rapidly. Southampton must preserve its heritage and character while remaining a vibrant year round community. The rural lands of the former Saugeen Township will face increasing pressures as we balance agriculture, housing, infrastructure, energy development and environmental protection. Add the potential impact of Bruce C, housing affordability, healthcare, transportation, infrastucture needs, climate resilience and the future of our waterfront, and it is clear that decisions made during the next few terms of Council will shape Saugeen Shores for fifty years or more.
We need the wisdom of experience. We need the vitality and perspective of those who may still be living with today’s decisions in 2060 and beyond. We need different backgrounds, occupations and stages of life around the table.
So, here is my personal appeal to the younger people of Saugeen Shores: think seriously about throwing your hat into the ring. You don’t need all the answers. You need to care, to listen and, above all, a willingness to serve. Nominations remain open until 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21.
Democracy is not a spectator sport. The future of Saugeen Shores is too important to leave to someone else.
Tony Sh
Southampton Ward, The Town of Saugeen Shores
July 9th, 2026
