Mayor and Council

I was first elected to Perth Town Council in 1997. I have been on Council for over twenty years. I have been Mayor for twelve years. I have an Honor's Degree in Social Work from Carleton University and a Child Care Diploma from Algonquin College. I worked in the social work field for most of my career. Along with my duties as Mayor, I own a small publishing and film business.

I am excited to serve on Perth Town Council because I sincerely believe over the next four years  good things will happen in Perth. We are set for historic growth and renewal. Our staff are dedicated, caring  professionals, and  our citizens are engaged . I believe Town Council can do great things for this community.  I am happy to be part of this journey.

I love Perth. I love everything about Perth. It's parks and waterways, the amazing festivals that take place every year and the people that call this place their home. Perth is a vibrant Town and an exciting place to live. Laurie and I moved to Perth over thirty years ago. We raised three children here. Quite simply Perth is a very special place, a place my wife and family will always call home.

Contact: Mayor John Fenik

I was born in Perth and have lived here for most of my life. Married to Kim (Reg. N.) with three children (Kent, Callie and Brock). Have worked as a Paramedic for 37 years and am currently employed as the Chief of the Lanark County Paramedic Service. I have served on Perth Town Council for 24 consecutive years and have sat on or chaired all town committees during that time. I have also volunteered with many sports organizations when my children were younger. I continue to sit on various professional committees related to my work as a paramedic and have been recognized both by the Governor General (Exemplary Service Award) as well I am a recipient of the General Richard Rohmer Commendation Pin for excellence in the field of paramedicine.

Perth continues to grow and with a new Council the it is important that the decisions we make ensures that we continue on the path to prosperity.  New members to Council bring new ideas and a fresh view of how we should proceed. There will be challenges ahead in meeting our infrastructure renewal plans while keeping Perth an affordable place to live, work and play. Working together as a cohesive team will help us achieve our goals.

Perth is my hometown and a remarkable place to live and raise a family.  The town is well situated in the region and is a magnet for tourists from all areas.  Together with our neighbours in Lanark County we offer an experience not often found in other areas.

Contact: Deputy Mayor Ed McPherson

I have been a police officer for over thirty-five years, first in London, England, then with the Perth Police Service and now with the Ontario Provincial Police.  In recent years I have served as the Community Service Officer which has allowed me to work with many community organizations, festivals and events and as the school liaison officer.  I have also been very active with local community theatre. 

I am excited to bring my leadership and collaborative-decision making experience to Perth Town Council. 

I have been proud and grateful to call Perth my home town for the last thirty years and look forward to contributing to its continual growth and success in the coming years.

Contact: Councillor Dave Bird

I have lived in the Perth area for over forty years, since 2004 in the Town of Perth. I have been on Perth Council for twelve years. During the last term, I was Chair of the Community Services department, Chair of the Downtown Perth Business Improvement Area, and  Chair of the Community Improvement Plan Advisory Panel. I was also Perth's representative on the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority Board, and sat on the Planning Advisory Committee. I worked for the Lanark Era newspaper for ten years, and for the Perth Courier for ten years, which enabled me to become very familiar with Perth area businesses.I have three adult daughters and eight grandchildren. I do lots of volunteer work for my Church.

I am excited to serve on the Town of Perth Council because Perth is a beautiful, vibrant town with a strong sense of community, and I wish to work with my fellow Councillors to maintain its viability.

What does Perth mean to me? It's home. 

Contact: Councillor Judy Brown

My name is Leona Cameron. I grew up in a small, friendly village, called Vernon, south of Ottawa. With my 5 siblings, I enjoyed a quite idyllic childhood, which included lots of big family get-together's on the holidays, a safe neighbourhood, and traditional values. After finishing OTHS high school, I completed Ottawa Teachers College and earned my BA degree from Ottawa University. Most of my career has been teaching Grades 6 to 9. My teaching career began in the town of Russell, and I just loved my six years there . After my marriage, I moved to Fort McMurray, Alberta, then down near Edmonton. I was in Alberta for 12 years and enjoyed my time there as well. When I returned I continued teaching with the Ottawa Carleton Board of Education, from which I retired. Throughout my teaching career I usually had part time careers in retail business or had my own small business ventures.  I have held positions within my Teaching Federation several times during my career. My family consists of my daughter, Meaghan, her husband, Gavin, and my two granddaughters, Olivia and Hope.

I have visited most parts of Canada and while they all have a certain beauty of their own, and unique features, I am, at heart, an Ontario girl.  Perth, to me, is a quintessential Ontario town. One I am proud to live in and one I am so proud to show off to my visiting family and friends. I love its history, its architecture, everything about it. 

I am excited to serve on the town council so I can be a part of helping, even in a small way, to  honour Perth’s heritage, to keep up with the present, but also , to always have an eye to the future so that Perth can grow and develop responsibly and carefully. There are many ideas and opinions, but only one budget. I am looking forward to being part of the decision-making  process for the next four years , to continue to make us all proud of our beautiful home town of Perth, Ontario

Contact: Councillor Leona Cameron

I work for Bell Canada in Brockville in an administration function in the engineering department. I graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa in June of 2018 with an undergraduate degree in Criminology with a specialization in Law. During my education, each summer I would return to Perth to work for Bell Canada in a technical role which serviced the majority of Lanark County. During high school, I volunteered with the Perth Food Bank (The Table), the Salvation Army, and the Lanark Lodge. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my friends and exploring the area.

I am looking forward to bringing a millennial perspective to Council. I am also looking forward to the large amount of learning opportunities that will accompany this role. I am excited to participate in the various opportunities available to give back to the community. Finally, I am really looking forward to working with the people who help make Perth such a great place to live.

The Town of Perth to me is home. Perth is where I grew up, made life long friends and it is where I would like to continue the next stages in my life. For me, Perth has always been a great place to be, with a beautiful downtown, rich heritage, great schools and local businesses.

Contact: Councillor Brock McPherson

Prior to moving to Perth in 2000 my professional experience had been in the field of Information Technology. I began my career with the Federal Government in Ottawa then moved to Ontario Hydro in Toronto and finally my I.T. career took me to Montreal where I joined Canadian Pacific Ltd. Some years later I was transferred back to Toronto. Over this twenty-six-year period I was a manager with the latter two companies. Seeking a change from my very technical background, I accepted a position as an Insurance Broker working in Toronto and selling to a professional clientele primarily consisting of lawyers, physicians and corporate executives. 

During my Toronto work years and while living in Mississauga with my family I became involved in municipal politics. Having always been interested in politics, I worked on election campaigns for Mayor Hazel McCallion, who became the longest serving Mayor in Canada, councillor Larry Taylor, who served nine years and Councillor George Carlson, who is still on council thirty years later.
When not watching my three sons playing sports, I wrote a newspaper column called ‘Simply Smith’ and eventually became chair of the board of directors of a small community newspaper called the Meadowvale World.

I am excited and proud to serve on the Council for the Town of Perth, where I can help to maintain the look and vibrancy of our beautiful town. I am eager and excited to be at the core of what is planned and happening in our town and being able to be part of the decision-making process going into the future, to keep Perth safe, affordable and green. I believe that it is a responsibility of council to provide our youth and seniors a town that has activities for everyone that will be stimulating and beneficial to their well-being.

I am a resident of this wonderful town, not because I was born here; I chose to make Perth my permanent home because I loved it and wanted to live here. My family grew up visiting Black Lake and the area. Over many years of visiting for weekends and holidays I began to feel that I belonged. Over the years of living in different cities and communities I learned just how special Perth was to me. I have so many wonderful memories of the early years going to town with the kids and the Perth Fair. I always knew that one day I would live in Perth...not just visit it, and in year 2000, single for many years and my sons now adults, I made it happen. I had no idea that I would very quickly meet a wonderful woman who would become my wife nor did ever think that I would meet so many people who would become such good friends. Perth is my home and I am happy.

Contact: Councillor Barry Smith