Brian Baty, who has served Niagara, Ontario for seven years as a regional councillor for Pelham, is the first to officially declare his intentions to run for chairman of Niagara’s regional government in a vote among newly elected regional councillors that will commence this December 9.
Pelham regional councillor and declared candidate for Niagara regional chair, Brian Baty
The choice of a new regional chairman to replace the retiring Peter Partington is an important one because the person who assumes that seat plays a lead role in framing policies and programs impacting on the lives of people across Niagara for years to come.
With that in mind, Niagara At Large is posting Baty’s media release and resume without modification and this news site is prepared to do the same for any other person publicly declaring their candidacy for this important job.
We urge our many readers and subscribers to share your views below on who you would like to see at the top person on regional council for the next four years, whether they be an elected member of the council or someone chosen from outside.
The St. Catharines/Thorold Chamber of Commerce, for example, has already published their endorsement, in daily newspapers for Damian Goulbourne, an outgoing Wellland mayor who lost a bid in this October’s municipal elections to serve as regional councillor for that city, for the regional chairman position.
Niagara At Large will have more to say about the chamber’s Goulbourne endorsement and other matters around who is in contention for the regional chair’s job later. In the meantime, here is Baty’s media release and we always welcome you to share your comments below on who you feel would be best to serve in this important position.
PELHAM COUNCILLOR SEEKS REGIONAL CHAIR POSITION
Pelham’s first directly-elected Regional Councillor, Brian Baty, announced today that he is actively seeking nomination for the position of Chair of the Niagara Regional Government. If elected, Baty will be the first Chair of Niagara Region to come from South Niagara.
He is a retired educator who served in eight of Niagara’s twelve municipalities; twelve years as a teacher and twenty-two as an administrator. He retired as the Principal of E.L. Crossley Secondary School in Pelham in 2003 and was elected as Pelham’s first directly elected Regional Councillor in November, 2003.
He has been the Co-Chair of the Public Health & Social Services Committee, Vice-Chair of the NPCA (Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority), Chair of RNBC (Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee), Chair of CORC (Council Organization Review Committee) and was recently appointed as a Commissioner of the Niagara Escarpment Commission. Baty notes that his skill set includes strong communication abilities, interpersonal relations, team building, organizational development and a strong work ethic to meet the demanding workload of the Regional Chair.
On the issue of governance, Baty notes that he has had previous experience with organizational development and governance issues as the Founding Chair of Port Cares, Port Colborne/Wainfleet Healthy Lifestyles Coalition and as a founding member and provincial executive member of OPC (Ontario Principals’ Council). These past experiences led him to become the Chair of the Council Organization Review Committee, during which time he has visited all regional governments in Ontario, meeting with all Regional Chairs and determining “best practices” to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Niagara Regional government operations.
Baty aims to eliminate duplication between local and regional governments, streamline delivery for water and wastewater services, and to forge a seamless transit system. Top infrastructure issues include the relocation of the sewage lagoons in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the replacement of the Burgoyne Bridge in St.Catharines and a revisit to the options available for water and wastewater concerns in the Township of Wainfleet. Baty has a vision of a legacy project for the celebration of the War of 1812 and two hundred years of peace with our American neighbours by the potential redevelopment of the Department of Defence property in Niagara-on-the-Lake and has intentions of entering into discussions with Parks Canada to explore potential projects.
Baty has a vision for Niagara that sees renewed economic development, prosperity and sustainability in the formation of the Gateway Economic Centre and Gateway Economic Zone in South Niagara and sees his past experiences with the neighbourhoods and communities in South Niagara as an important symbolic catalyst to this economic renewal for Niagara.
Baty states that he is running “for” the position of Chair and is not running “against” any other candidate. He also noted that he sees the position as one of service, not a job. “I hope to see Niagara not as it is to be but as it is to become.”
COUNCILLOR BRIAN BATY PROFILE FOR CONSIDERATION AS CHAIR OF NIAGARA REGION
EDUCATION Elementary: L. G. Lorriman, Thorold Secondary: Thorold Secondary School, Thorold B.Sc.: Dalhousie University, Halifax
LIFELONG LEARNING M.S.Ed: Niagara University, Lewiston, N.Y. Teacher Certificaton, McArthur College, Queens’ University, Kingston B.Ed: Brock University, St.Catharines Certfication: Special Education, Guidance, Primary Education, Principals’ qualifications
WORK EXPERIENCE: McNeil Pharmaceuticals Medical Representative, Maritime provinces Syntex Pharmaceuticals Medical Representative, Nova Scotia & St. Johns, NFLD Teacher: Science, Biology & English at Thorold High, Pelham High & E.L. Crossley Administrator: 3 years as VP , Welland Westbrook Secondary School 11 years as Principal, Port Colborne High School 2 years as Principal, Welland Centennial Secondary School 1 year as Principal, Welland High School 2 years as Administrator of Community Education, Niagara Region 3 years as Principal, E.L. Crossley Secondary School, Pelham Regional Councillor, Town of Pelham, 7 years Columnist for the Voice of Pelham and Pelham News, 4 years Additional part-time experience in retail sales, construction and paper mill labour.
RETAIL, MARKETING & SALES, FACTORY FLOOR, CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION, ADMINISTRATION, GOVERNMENT, JOURNALISM COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP: COMMUNITY BUILDING · Declared “Honourary Citizen” by the Mayor and Council of Port Colborne 1995 · Founding Chair of “Port Cares” · Founding Chair of Port Colborne/Wainfleet Healthy Lifestyles Coalition · Established “PACT”, Parents & Children Today program at Port Colborne High School · Established “Little Darlings” daycare facility at Port Colborne High School · Established a Community Career Information Centre at Port Colborne High School · Established “Project Evergreen” education program for seniors at Portal Village
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT · Member of Port Colborne/Wainfleet Chamber of Commerce for several years · Member and Vice-Chair of Port Colborne/Wainfleet Community Futures Economic Development Corporation for several years
VOLUNTEERISM · Former Rector’s Warden and Parish Council member, Holy Trinity Anglican Church · Ongoing voluntary church roles · Pelham Food drive volunteer · Niagara Children’s Water Festival volunteer · Served several years on the “Stop Family Violence: It’s Everybody’s Business” Task Force and made presentations at all councils in Niagara
CAREER LEADERSHIP: · As a teacher for 12 years: OSSTF (Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation) Branch representative, Branch President, District Professional Development Chair, District 7 President, Delegate to Provincial Annual Assemblies, Trainer and participant at Summer Institutes, Provincial CWQE (Conditions of Work for Quality Education) member, Provincial forum presenter on Conditions of Work Issues, Member of local collective bargaining unit for working conditions · As an administrator for 22 years: member, executive roles and Chair of NSHA (Niagara South Headmasters’ Association later NSSPC (Niagara South Secondary Principals’ Council and later NSAC (Niagara South Administrative Council) and later DSBN Administrators’ Council; member and later Chair of South-Central Principals’ Association; Regional Representative to OSSPC ( Ontario Secondary School Principals’ Council then Founding Member and provincial executive member of OPC (Ontario Principals’ Council).
GOVERNMENTAL LEADERSHIP: · Commissioner NEC, (Niagara Escarpment Commission) 2010 · Co-Chair Public Health & Social Services Committee 2006-2010 · Chair of CORC (Council Organization Review Committee) 2004-2010 · Vice-Chair NPCA (Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority) 2006-2010 · Chair RNBC, (Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee) 2006-2010
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Niagara At Large 
I know I am going to be slammed for these comments, but …. I think Baty, about whom I knew little before reading this, sounds like an ideal Chair. I am way of anyone endorsed by the Chambers of Commerce, for starters. Then, looking at this PR I see he has been involved with Social Justice causes of one kind or another for years. This area gets little attention from the Region as a whole.
Like so many, I feel the Regional Municipality of Niagara is a bloated creature, with far too many high-paid managers and engineers running the show. I would like to see some other issues, other than Public Works, which, yes, I know is very important, addressed. Some of those issues are in Baty’s resume.
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Whoever is elected to the Chair’s job would have big shoes to fill.
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