Collingwood Council has declared the mayor’s seat vacant as of June 20 following Brian Saunderson’s official resignation as mayor of Collingwood, following his successful run for Simcoe-Grey member of parliament.
Effective July 27, Deputy Mayor Keith Hull will take the mayor’s seat. Councillor Mariane McLeod has been acting deputy mayor. McLeod, who grew up in Clearview Township, between Dunedin and Glen Huron, is running for mayor in Collingwood.
“It has been an honour to serve as a councillor. I have gathered the skills and experience to be the leader Collingwood needs now. As Mayor, I will continue to be respectful of your precious tax dollars as we complete the water treatment, recreation, and terminals projects,” said McLeod. “We must lock in what we have learned about transparency and the public trust as we move forward together.”
McLeod is currently Collingwood’s Acting Deputy Mayor. She was elected in 2018 with the most votes among councillors and has been serving as one of Collingwood’s representatives at the County of Simcoe. McLeod is also Collingwood’s representative at the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and was acclaimed chair of the 18-member Board of Directors the last two years. She was elected Chair of the town’sCorporate and Community Services Standing Committee for two terms. McLeod has also been working with a group in Grey and Bruce Counties to encourage more women to run for municipal office.
McLeod’s family has been in Collingwood and area for four generations. Her father served as a councillor in the former Nottawasaga Township and her mother nursed in Collingwood for more than 40 years. McLeod met her husband, Charlie Rentner, when she attended Collingwood Collegiate. Her 21-year career as a broadcast journalist took her across Ontario; for 11 years, she provided morning radio news in Collingwood, Clearview and Wasaga Beach, including a daily talk show which connected and informed her audience about local news, events, and people.
McLeod teaches at the Curling Club of Collingwood’s Junior program and serves on the club’s Board of Directors. She honours her rural roots by volunteering with the Collingwood Fair each year. When the pandemic hit, McLeod became a volunteer chef for the Out of the Cold program, providing meals to people in Collingwood who are experiencing homelessness.