
Mayor and Council
The Mayor and Council of Saugeen Shores are committed to strengthening our community. They strive to improve services, while at the same time respecting our Town's unique diversity.
Role of Council
The primary role of Council is to:
- represent the public and consider the well-being and interests of the municipality
- develop and evaluate policies and programs
- determine which services the municipality provides
- ensure that administrative practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of Council
- maintain the financial integrity of the municipality
Meetings
All Council meetings are open to the public and available via webcast, with the exception of “Closed to Public” meetings.
Learn more about speaking before Council.
Agendas and minutes
View Council and Committee agendas and minutes using the Council Calendar.
Council members
Saugeen Shores Council is composed of a Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Vice Deputy Mayor who are elected at large, and six Ward Councillors. Each Council serves for a term of four years.
Read the message from the Mayor.
The current Council members are listed below. Expand each section to view a brief bio and contact information.
Luke Charbonneau, Mayor |
Luke was first elected to Saugeen Shores Council, as a representative for Saugeen Township, in 2006 and served as the municipality’s Deputy Mayor from 2010 to 2018; during which time he also served as Chair of the Saugeen Shores Police Services Board. Luke served on the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority for 11 years between 2006 and 2018; as a member of the executive committee from 2011 to 2015 and as Chairman of the Authority from 2015 to 2018, Luke was acclaimed as Mayor of the Town of Saugeen Shores in 2018. Working with Saugeen Shores’ team of outstanding councillors and municipal staff, he is dedicated to ensuring that Saugeen Shores continues to be a leading community in Bruce County and a great place to visit, start a business and raise a family. |
Don Matheson, Deputy Mayor |
He teaches High School at SDSS in Port Elgin. He plays and coaches many sports, but is particularly fond of hockey, and spends a lot of time at the arena. Over the past 10 years he has been fortunate enough to have taken students to France, Italy, Germany, Holland and Belgium to trace Canada's history through the World Wars. This has been the highlight of his career. As a Councillor, his goals over the next four years are to help guide Saugeen Shores in the right direction, so that we are a healthy, vibrant and active community. |
Mike Myatt, Vice Deputy Mayor |
Mike and his wife Jean have two sons Jeff and Andy. Jeff and his wife Katie reside in Saugeen Shores with their children Peyton and Colby. Andy and his wife Melanie reside in Binbrook, Ontario. Mike takes great pride in his past experiences as a Hockey and Baseball coach for over 20 years, a long-time member of Port Elgin Cenotaph Committee, and member of the Port Elgin Legion. Once elected in 2014 and leading up to 2018 election, Mike served on Physician Recruitment Committee, SMART (Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit), Committee of Adjustment, Planning Committee, Saugeen Rail Trail Committee, and Port Elgin BIA Board of Management. Mike looks forward to being a strong voice for all three Wards in Saugeen Shores. |
Matt Carr, Saugeen Councillor |
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John Divinski, Southampton Councillor |
Divinski has been a Southampton resident ever since he moved to the area in 2005 where he was employed by Bayshore Broadcasting as News Director of CFPS-FM (98 the Beach; 97.9 the Bruce). He semi-retired in 2011 and went back to his roots as a news reporter out in the field, where he covered Saugeen Shores council meetings for 10-years before retiring from work in August, 2021. Divinski has been active in the community since moving here, hosting a one-hour daily talk show called Soundingboard on CFPS-FM, helping people solve their problems or at the very least, trying to get experts on the air that could solve the issues. He also was the first Honourary Chair of the Light the Way fundraising campaign for the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation and helped create the annual Radiothon on 98 the Beach which continues to this day. Divinski also continues to be the “voice” of the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks Sr. AA hockey club handling public address duties at the Plex. Divinski is married to Rev. Ann Veyvara Divinski of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Southampton. |
Cheryl Grace, Southampton Councillor |
With degrees from the Universities of Toronto and Western Ontario, Cheryl taught high school for thirty years in Ann Arbor, Michigan, founding and coaching her school's state-champion Mock Trial program. She is an active community volunteer: Chantry Island tour guide, Bruce County Museum volunteer, Saugeen Rail Trail Association and member of the Southport Canadian Federation of University Women's Executive, Scholarship Committee and Issues Group. |
David Myette, Saugeen Councillor |
Dave worked for Ontario Hydro/OPG/Bruce Power since 1982, retiring in January 2015 as an Operations Specialist. His initial involvement with the Town was as a member and later Chair of the Parks and Trails Advisory Committee. In addition to being a Councillor, he is on the United Way of Bruce Grey Board of Directors and is a member of the Lake Huron Fishing Club Executive Committee and is the Manager of the Port Elgin Salmon Hatchery. He and Melinda also operate a rental accommodation business in Saugeen Shores. |
Jami Smith, Port Elgin Councillor |
Jami is a lifelong resident Saugeen Shores, with significant historical ties to the community. Jami is an active community member who is passionate about perpetuating Saugeen Shores as one of the best places to live in Canada. Jami studied Political Science at the University of Western Ontario, and since graduating has invested in a career as a Nuclear Professional of Bruce Power. She is eager to bring her energy to public service in the Town of Saugeen Shores. |
Code of conduct
In addition to their statutory obligations, the Mayor and members of Council follow By-law 59-2017, which outlines a code of conduct for Saugeen Shores elected officials, local boards and advisory committees.
Declaration of pecuniary interest
Effective March 1, 2019, the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires a Council Member who declares a pecuniary interest to file a written statement including the general nature to the Clerk, or secretary of the committee or local board. The written statement is to be filed at the meeting at which the Council Member discloses the interest, or as soon as possible afterwards.
The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires Council Members to declare a direct or indirect pecuniary interest where the Council Member, or related persons, have a financial interest in the matter being discussed by Council. Refer to the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. for additional information.
View the Town of Saugeen Shores' Declaration of Pecuniary Interest Registry.
Additional details can be obtained from the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.M.50.