This article was originally categorized as news, but we have since changed it to a community category/opinion story, in alignment with our Ethics Policy.
On Oct 19, Jamie Myra was re-elected as mayor of the Town of Lunenburg, marking a continuation of his leadership. Alongside him, six entirely new town councillors were elected: Renea Babineau, Rachel Bailey, Debbie Dauphinee, Gale Fullerton, Alex Greek, and Alison Strachan.
The kitchen party held for the supporters of mayoral candidate Jesse Ward at the Lunenburg Legion was full of cheer and optimism.
The voting closed at 7pm and there were dozens of people varying in age from a toddler running around, folks in their mid to late 30s, and upward, engaged in lively conversations.
Almost immediately after the music started at 7:13pm, Ward looked down at his phone.
A quiet fell across the whole room, and people began shaking their heads in disbelief.
The disappointment was palpable.
Despite the loss, Ward addressed his supporters from a makeshift soapbox, expressing gratitude for their involvement in raising awareness about crucial local issues. His campaign had knocked on over 1,200 doors, and supporters shared stories of their dedication, including hosting meet-and-greets and conducting research on local concerns such as deer populations.
The list of thank yous was long, genuine, and emotional. This was a room of people who had been activated by a message of hope.
Most of all, amongst all the people present, the thing that came up was gratitude that Ward had gotten a conversation started.
This room seemed committed to keeping the conversation going.
Gale Fullerton, one of the newly elected councillors, praised Ward for bringing significant issues to the forefront and expressed optimism that the newly elected council would be compelled to address these topics moving forward.
“It’s going to be a very interesting year,” Ward noted, emphasizing that he will remain engaged in the community and continue advocating for practical solutions to Lunenburg’s challenges. He highlighted the unique nature of this election, where there was no independent mayoral forum or debates, yet he felt proud of the conversations sparked by his campaign.
He acknowledged that entering politics comes with risks, and his gratitude for the people who decided to run for office anyway was heartening.
Over and over everyone said the same thing- Ward had raised the level of discourse and left people wanting practical solutions to the issues facing the Town of Lunenburg.
As the night concluded, discussions turned to ongoing efforts to address the gender gap in politics and the need for continued civic engagement. The atmosphere suggested that, despite the election results, the commitment to community dialogue and activism would remain strong.
Across town, in the Lunenburg Fire Hall, Jamie Myra made his victory speech, thanking his volunteers and supporters, and acknowledging Ward’s commitment to keeping the campaign “above board.”
Wake Lloire is a recent transplant to Lunenburg, and already has a deep love for the place, its people and the deer (even if that’s a bit controversial)
