The Petawawa Town Council consists of the Mayor and six councillors, each serving a a four year term. There is no ward system in the Town of Petawawa and therefore the Deputy Mayor is decided by highest number of votes received during the election process.
Agendas and Minutes
Council meets regularly to conduct municipal business on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 1111 Victoria Street. Meetings are open to the public unless otherwise noted. If a meeting falls on a statutory holiday or election day, it will be held the following day at the same time and location.
When required, Council may move into a Closed Session in accordance with the Municipal Act to discuss confidential matters such as legal, property, or personnel. These sessions are not open to the public or broadcast.
All open meetings are live-streamed on YouTube, and recordings are available on the Town’s YouTube channel.
Committees
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee
- Petawawa Accessibility Advisory Committee
- Petawawa Seniors Advisory Committee
- Petawawa Business Advisory Network
- Petawawa OPP Detachment Board
- Petawawa Public Library Board
- Petawawa & Area Airport Commission
- Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Liason Committee
Councillors
Mayor, Gary Serviss
Mayor, Gary Serviss
Gary Serviss was born in Manitouwadge, Ontario and moved to Petawawa with his family in 1969. He lived for ten years in Baden and Lahr Germany while his father taught at the Canadian Forces Base high schools. He enjoyed a 30-year teaching career at Dakota Collegiate in Winnipeg, the Pembroke Jail, Fellowes High School, General Panet High School and Valour High School. I thoroughly enjoyed serving the fine citizens of Petawawa for the last eight years as a member of town council and am looking forward to acting as your mayor during the next term as we work together to strive to make Petawawa and even better community in which to live, work and play.
Deputy Mayor, Theresa Sabourin
Deputy Mayor, Theresa Sabourin
Deputy Mayor Theresa Sabourin has been serving the Town of Petawawa as a council member since 2004 and as a life-long volunteer. Over her terms she has sat of numerous committees and working groups, from Accessibility Advisory Committee, Petawawa Business Advisory Network to the Waste Recovery Center and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to name a few, she has worked tirelessly for the Town. Theresa also donates her time to the Petawawa Pantry Food Bank, a Non-Profit Charity that supports those experiencing food insecurity issues in Petawawa.
Councillor, James Carmody
Councillor, James Carmody
Councillor James Carmody was born in Pembroke. At the age of ten, the family moved to McGuire subdivision in Petawawa. Councillor Carmody took great pleasure in his new rural environment, snowmobiling and fishing the Ottawa from shore. Councillor Carmody attended Northern College in Kirkland Lake where he studied computer science. He then went on to work a 30-year career in software development at AECL. Councillor Carmody resides in the Black Bay area, where his family have owned property since 1927. He is a woodworking enthusiast and a lover of the great outdoors.
Councillor, Lisa Coutu
Councillor, Lisa Coutu
Councillor Lisa Coutu adopted Petawawa as her hometown in 2012. She is currently employed as a lawyer in the Petawawa area, with a focus on community legal education and family law. While attending the University of Ottawa, Councillor Coutu studied municipal law, community wealth building, and environmental law. Her passion is for community growth and forward-thinking development that meets our responsibilities to caretake life on this land for generations to come. Councillor Coutu is currently serving as Chair of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, and as Treasurer of the Public Library.
Councillor, Karen Donovan
Councillor, Karen Donovan
Karen Donovan is a long time Petawawa resident and new to the role of Councillor. Having worked in Petawawa for over 35 years, Karen also coached gymnastics and soccer, volunteered with Girl Guides and sat on local boards such as the Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre and now the Accessibility Advisory Committee. As a councillor Karen is looking forward to representing the residents of Petawawa and being a contributor to the quality of life of our community.
Councillor, Adam Driscoll
Councillor, Adam Driscoll
Councillor Adam Driscoll is in his first term as a town councillor and is very excited about the opportunity to contribute to the future of Petawawa. As a lifelong resident of the town, he has worked for several departments including the fire department, public works, and community services. He takes great pride in his understanding and knowledge of our town. Adam currently works on Garrison Petawawa as a firefighter and has been in the role since 2014. Adam has also been a local business owner since 2018 with his company Valley Respiratory Fit Testing. Councillor Driscoll looks forward to the growth and bright future of Petawawa.
Councillor, Murray Rutz
Councillor, Murray Rutz
Councillor Murray Rutz is in his third term as a Council member for the Town of Petawawa and has been a resident for 36 years. He is currently a Loblaw Corporate manager and enjoys working with people. Murray is very active in the community and brings true progressive representation. I am amazed by our proficient citizens and the opportunities ahead for our families, and our future, while keeping that DYNAMIC BY NATURE environment setting.
Bylaws
Learn of the regulations that shape our community by exploring the Town’s Bylaws. This section provides access to the official rules and guidelines that govern various aspects of town life, from property standards to public conduct. Familiarise yourself with these essential documents to ensure compliance and contribute to a harmonious Petawawa.
Request a Certificate
The office of the Mayor will gladly produce certificates, by request, for milestone events, such as retirements, anniversaries, births, business celebrations and other significant achievements.
Email the completed Certificate Request Form found below. Please allow a minimum of (10) business days, from date of submission for the certificate and letter to be completed.
Military Retirements: be sure to include the members full name, rank, unit, years of service and any decorations (i.e. CD).
Certificate Requests & Inquiries
Connect with Council
The Municipality & Procedural By-law provides many opportunities for participation and engagement. Members of the public have several options for connecting with Council.
Submit Comments in Writing
Submit your comments to Council regarding municipal matters by emailing the Clerk or to the attention of the Clerk & Office at 1111 Victoria Street, Petawawa, Ontario, K8H 2E6.
Written comments received by the Clerk will be provided to Council members or you may also contact Council Members directly by email, find contact information on our Directory.
If you are submitting comments regarding a matter on an upcoming Council or Committee agenda, please ensure you note the Item Number and the date of the
meeting.
Request a Delegation
Delegations help inform Council members about specific issues, projects, or initiatives in the Municipality, and aide them in making well-informed decisions that align with the needs and interests of the community.
To make a Delegation, submit the request and all accompanying presentation materials to the Clerk.
- You will only have fifteen (15) minutes to make your delegation to Council.
Remember, you cannot make delegations during Council in Committee meetings. See the meeting calendar for Council meeting dates. - Once you submit your request, a staff member will be in touch with more information on next steps.
- Please note that the information provided to Council will become part of the public record and may be recorded in the minutes for a meeting.
Please contact the Office of the Clerk if you have any questions.
Tips for presenting to Council
- Rules of conduct are laid out in the Procedural By-law
- Limit your delegations or public comments to the time restrictions noted above
- Highlight your key points
- Provide additional background and supporting information in writing in advance of the meeting for Council to review
- Be specific about what you are asking for
- Introduce yourself, and all members of your delegation, when you are called to present
- If asking a question or making public comments, state your name clearly for the record
Town Hall Notices
Council Code of Conduct
A code of conduct aims to ensure public trust and confidence in the Municipality’s decision making and operations. The public should expect the highest standards of conduct from the members they elect to local government, as well as members serving on Boards and Committees. In turn, adherence to these standards will protect and maintain the Municipality’s reputation and integrity of its decision-making process.
The Corporation of the Town of Petawawa is committed to achieving the highest quality of municipal administration and governance by encouraging high standards of conduct on the part of all elected officials and members of its Boards and Committees.
Any individual who identifies or witnesses behaviour or an activity by a Member that they believe is in contravention of this Code of Conduct or the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act may file a formal complaint. The complaint must be submitted in writing on the prescribed Complaint Form (see below) to the CAO and/or Clerk and accompanied by the prescribed fee in the amount of $150.00. The CAO and/or Clerk will then forward the complaint to the Town’s Integrity Commissioner (Tony Fleming of Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP) for investigation. If the Integrity Commissioner determines that a complaint is frivolous, vexatious, or does not disclose a breach of this Code of Conduct or the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, at any point after the submission of the complaint, the complainant shall forfeit the fee. If the result of the complaint is a negotiated resolution or a finding that the Member breached this Code of Conduct or the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, the fee shall be refunded in part, up to 50%, based on the recommendation of the Integrity Commissioner.
Individuals are encouraged to pursue the informal complaint procedure (Schedule “A” Part I of Council Code of Conduct) as the first means of remedying behaviour or an activity that they believe violates the Code of Conduct or the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
Pecuniary Interest Registry
Bill 68, the Modernizing Ontario’s Municipal Legislation Act, 2017 received Royal Assent on May 30, 2017 and made approximately 43 pages of amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001, the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act (MCIA), and the Municipal Elections Act (MEA), as well as approximately 12 other pieces of legislation.
The MCIA was amended to require a member of Council who has declared a pecuniary interest to file a written statement of the interest and its general nature with the Clerk. The municipality must establish and maintain a registry of each statement filed and each declaration recorded by March 1, 2023. The registry shall be available for public inspection.