As part of Scout-Guide Week on Feb. 19, Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj hosted a pack of scouts, leaders and parents from across Centre Wellington.
Ross-Zuj welcomed those gathered.
Starting from the podium, Ross-Zuj said “this is a very special podium because it came out of a very old church – the chapel at the Elora cemetery.
“We rescued it and had it restored.”
The mayor also pointed to the various works of art on the walls, created by members of the local arts community.
Artwork is rotated on a regular basis.
“People have found this to be very popular. Not only do we have it in the council chambers, but some of the artwork is also installed within the hallway.
“There is one piece that doesn’t change. This is an A.J. Casson piece [depicting the Elora Mill].”
Casson was a member of the Group of Seven – who were well known for their depictions of various Ontario communities and landscapes.
“A.J. Casson chose to paint our area. We keep this print to remind us of his particular love for this community.”
She then pointed out a poster featuring the municipal logo and the township’s vision and mission statements.
“We try to apply the vision – excellence in everything,” in the mission of “working together today and tomorrow for a safe, livable and sustainable community.”
“We are very fortunate to have a great community to live in.”
She also pointed to flags on display of the current municipality and the municipalities which are now included in Centre Wellington.”
She said those municipalities included Elora, Fergus, Nichol, Pilkington, West Garafraxa, Guelph and Eramosa.
The new flag, she said, features the slogan ‘Unity is Strength’ – “which means we work much better working as a group, than apart.”
Images within that flag represent elements from the former municipalities.
One of the favourites, however, was the mayor’s gavel.
When asked what the gavel is used for, one cub piped up “to say ‘Guilty’.”
“… if you were a judge,” Ross-Zuj said.
The mayor clarified the gavel is used to get everyone’s attention and call the meeting to order and often to adjourn meetings as well.
Like the six municipalities which now make up Centre Wellington, the gavel is made up of six types of wood representing trees in Centre Wellington.
The gavel was made by Robert Wilson in 2000.
She later passed around both the gavel and her chain of office.
The chain includes the names of all previous mayors.
Ross-Zuj provided an abbreviated description of what the municipality does and how it affects a citizen’s daily life.
She then spent much of the remaining time responding to questions and comments.
Groups represented included packs from across Centre Wellington.
