Leeds and Grenville Councillors Elect new Warden | Mayor Corinna Smith-Gatcke

Media Release

Corinna Smith-Gatcke Selected as 2025-2026 Warden

Leeds and Grenville Counties Councillors have elected Corinna Smith-Gatcke, the Mayor of the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, to serve as Warden for the 2025- 2026 term. Outgoing Warden Nancy Peckford officially transferred the Chain of Office to Warden Smith-Gatcke during a ceremony that was attended by Counties Council, staff, and invited guests.
When addressing Council, Warden Smith-Gatcke noted the importance of infrastructure, saying “The most significant infrastructure projects the Counties has ever seen are underway with County Road 43 and the G. Tackaberry and Family Home”. She said, “It is our job to make difficult decisions in very challenging times”, and she will “Support the expectations of Mayors, while challenging the organization to find efficiencies”. Warden Smith-Gatcke said, “Strong partnerships with provincial and federal representatives will be imperative as we proactively look for funding opportunities to support the services and infrastructure projects of the future.” 

Warden Smith-Gatcke emphasized the importance of collaboration and cooperation, stating “What I have learned the most about sitting around this table, in this body, is that collaboration and cooperation between us is critical. Without it, we will all continue to struggle”. She noted, “There are big things to be done here at the Counties” and stated there is more to be done, stating “We will make it through because we will do it together.”

Outgoing Warden Peckford, who is also Mayor of Municipality of North Grenville, thanked her Counties Council colleagues and staff for their support during her tenure in the Warden’s chair. “I have had the great privilege to hold the office of Warden at the United Counties during an extraordinary period in the Counties’ history. The size and impact of the initiatives that we have embarked upon over the past many years is substantial, and their effects will be felt by generations to come”. She noted she “Will do everything in my power to work with the new Warden to ensure the momentum continues”.

Solicitor John Simpson administered the Oath of Office to Warden Smith-Gatcke. Several special guests were on hand for the inaugural meeting to welcome and congratulate the new Warden, including Mayor John Beddows of the Town of
Gananoque, who brought remarks on behalf of himself and on behalf of City of Brockville Mayor Matt Wren. Also on hand was Michael Jiggins, who brought remarks on behalf of MPP Steve Clark. MP Michael Barrett sent words of welcome to the new Warden, and Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal Mayor Tory Deschamps shared words of welcome from the Town of Prescott on behalf of Mayor Gauri Shankar.

Background:
Elected as Mayor of the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands in 2018 and acclaimed in 2022, Corinna Smith Gatcke has been an agent of change. She was raised on a dairy farm north of Lansdowne, active in 4H and Junior Farmers at the Provincial level, educated at St. Lawrence College in Marketing and Sales, and then began her career as an assistant to the Solicitor General at Queens Park. Through her work placements in college, she grew within the mortgage industry and ultimately it led her to become a successful Mortgage Agent in the city of Brockville since 2001. She, along
with her husband Jeff and their two boys Jack and Alex, resides on the St Lawrence River.

For more information:
Andrea Bolton, Deputy Clerk
United Counties of Leeds and Grenville
613-342-3840, ext. 2307
Andrea.Bolton@uclg.on.ca