LANCASTER, Ontario – After three decades as a municipal clerk, Marilyn Lebrun is retiring at the end of this year.
A native of Lancaster, Marilyn began as an administrative assistant and eventually Clerk for the Village of Lancaster. She remained Clerk after the amalgamation of the Township of South Glengarry in 1998.
That same year offered the first real challenge to the new municipality, the Ice Storm of ’98.
“The Ice Storm worked out really well,” said Marilyn. “We had to come together as a new community. I was responsible for the five fire departments to make sure they had everything they needed during the emergency.”
Over the course of her career, Marilyn said that she was always passionate about taking an active role in municipal democracy.
“I like municipal elections,” she said. “I ran the elections from 1999 and I don’t know how many elections I ran. I always have to be neutral and I like speaking with the candidates and explaining the election. Some are intimidated because they don’t know what’s involved.”
Marilyn says that she is very proud that the municipality now has a Nurse Practitioner Clinic and remembers helping setup an office for the nurse at the Township Hall.
Marilyn’s last official day as clerk is Dec. 31 and she will be replaced by Kelli Campeau.
“I feel great,” she said. “I’m ready to retire and do some things I always wanted to like gardening, curling and the historic walking tour of the village.”
She had some advice for her successor, who she says has the full support of the Township CAO Bryan Brown.
“Communication is the toughest part of the job,” she said. “I think that Kelli will excel in that part of it. Some people you never hear from and some people you hear from all the time. It is important to listen to people and to listen to what they’re trying to say. I think people don’t realize the bureaucracy involved and you have to be patient with people.”
She said that she sees higher levels of government downloading more and more responsibilities to municipal employees, who will have to be prepared for those challenges in the future.”
Marilyn said she will miss the people she works with, and looks forward to taking up more projects, like the historic walking tour of South Lancaster, which she is passionate about.
“I’ve been fortunate for all of the people I’ve worked with over the years,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot.”
