Huron-Kinloss CAO retires after almost 34 years in municipal administration

Huron-Kinloss chief administrative officer (CAO) Mary Rose Walden has worked in a municipal office for almost 34 years and despite a couple of amalgamations, she has served the same municipality all that time.

Originally from Toronto, she came to Huron Township (now Huron-Kinloss) with her friend whose mother ran the Lighthouse Store in Point Clark. Here, she met her future husband, Brock. They were married May 12, 1990, and she began her career as clerk-treasurer of Huron Township, May 26, 1990.

In 1995, the Village of Ripley was amalgamated with Huron Township and Walden became administrator-treasurer. Four years later, Huron and Kinloss Townships amalgamated with the Village of Lucknow to form Huron-Kinloss Township, and Walden became the CAO.

Besides the two amalgamations, she has seen a lot of changes in the municipality over the years, including the regulations as a result of the Walkerton drinking water crisis, the death of mayor Gerald Doelman, and the construction of a new fire hall and water tower in Ripley, as well as new residential subdivisions, the municipal office, and an addition and renovations at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre.

Walden recalls when she started out, she was to take over from Marlene Colling but there was enough of a workload to keep  them both busy. Annetta Robinson was the tax collector, Jim Scott was the public works superintendent and Rollie Glover was the water superintendent.

“We had five staff in the municipal office,” she says. “Now, we’ve tripled that number, but the municipality has grown as well. Back then, I was the clerk-treasurer and I reported directly to council. Now, we have about 40 full-time employees and a number of part-time staff.”

Through the years, Walden has applied for millions of dollars in government grants to help pay for capital projects in the township. She also came up with the idea of the Ice Cream Trail which was a tourism destination for many people for 10 years.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a struggle, she says, as the township and council had to come up with new ways of conducting municipal business and holding regular meetings. “But we survived because we worked together.”

That’s one of the major highlights of her career, says Walden, is having worked with outstanding mayors and council members over three decades.

“I’m proud of the time we’ve spent working together for the betterment of the community,” she says. “And I’ve always had really good staff to work with. I appreciate everyone for the unwavering dedication and contributions to the management team and the community as a whole."

She says it was that teamwork that helped the township overcome challenges, celebrate achievements and create a supportive and thriving workplace.

Besides the many capital projects, including the Ripley industrial park, downtown revitalization and Lewis Park in Ripley, Walden says another major highlight was building the drinking water system in Point Clark in the mid-1990s.

“We were fortunate to get the funding for that project because that was the final year for infrastructure money from the government,” she says.

As for challenges, Walden says the biggest one is trying to make the community happy.

“It’s council making the decisions; staff just makes the recommendations," she says. "The public thinks that staff makes the decisions, but it’s council making the snowballs and we throw them.”

She says communication is always a challenge. However, it has improved in recent years thanks to new technology, such as the municipal website, newsletters, and on-line platforms.

Over the years, Walden has been involved in other organizations, such as the Ripley and District Horticultural Society and as a youth leader with the For Our Youth Club, the Ripley Agricultural Society, and the Bruce Botanical Food Gardens heritage dinner.

But between her family and her work, there wasn’t much time, she says.

“When I started, council meetings were held every Monday night, plus we had numerous committee meetings,” she says. “But we always had solid councils which is why we were able to accomplish so much in this municipality.”

So, why is she retiring?

Walden says she wants to spend more time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She and her husband live in Ripley and have three grown children and two grandchildren who also live in Ripley.

“After almost 34 years serving the public, it’s time to do what I want,” she says. “Brock and I are going on a big trip to New Zealand and Australia for six weeks.”

At her retirement party, March 7, Walden thanked everyone who helped make her time with the municipality so enjoyable and such a success.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside such talented and inspiring individuals,” she says, “and I am confident that the legacy we’ve built together will endure long after my departure.”



Mary Rose Walden, Huron-Kinloss chief administrative officer, holds up a book of memories created for her by her colleagues, on the occasion of her retirement