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Kolb will leave the chair at the end of the term

June 27, 2013   ·   0 Comments

Emil Kolb

By Bill Rea
Emil Kolb will not be seeking another term as Chair of Peel Region.
Kolb, 77, dropped the news at the start of Thursday’s (June 27) Regional council meeting.
He observed that next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the Region, and since his current term as chair expires at the end of that year, he reasoned that would be the time to move on.
“It’s a milestone that I really consider very important to myself,” he told his council colleagues.
Kolb and Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion are the only two people who have served continuously on council since the Region was formed in 1974. Caledon Councillor Richard Whitehead also served on the first council, but he was out of office for several years before returning to politics.
Kolb was active as a member of the council for Albion Township before it was part of the merger that created the Town of Caledon in ‘74. He served as Regional councillor for Wards 3 and 4 until his election as Mayor in 1985. He served two terms in that capacity, and was elected Regional Chairman in 1991.
In making the announcement, Kolb expressed thanks for the support he’s received from the public and his colleagues and staff over the years.
There was a touch of emotion in his voice when he made reference to his wife Beryle.
“I’ve been married to a wonderful woman, and I think we’d like to spend a little time together,” he said.
“I am very proud to have served as a member of Regional Council since the formation of the Region of Peel 40 years ago. The timing will be right to hand the reins over to someone else to lead council into the future,” he commented. “I continue to have great passion for the work we do and I believe in the value of the contributions made by Regional councillors and Regional staff.”
“I fully intend to work with council over the next 18 months to continue providing the best quality of service we can to our residents and businesses,” Kolb said. “I look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary with council, Regional staff and, most importantly, with the people who have chosen to live and work in our region.”
“It’s 40 years we’ve been together,” McCallion commented. “It’s hard to believe.”
She also recalled she had been opposed to the creation of the Region, but she has tried since those days to make it work. She added there was a benefit of working with a farmer like Kolb.
“I think a farmer’s a great person to work with,” she commented. “They seem to have a better understanding of what makes things tick.”
“I’ve never found you to be parochial,” McCallion told Kolb. “I’ve always found you looked at the region as a whole.”
Mayor Susan Fennell praised Kolb’s leadership and hard work over the years, adding he had always been fair to all parts of the Region.
She also remembered being at the Kolb farm for barbecues.
“They’re quiet, they’re lovely, everybody’s so nice,” she said, “and they always end early because Emil gets up at 4 in the morning to tend to the farm.”
“We’ve had a relationship that goes well over 40 years,” Councillor Richard Whitehead remarked.
“Your announcement this morning, Emil, is you,” he added. “You’re making sure this morning not to leave a political vacuum behind you.”
“That’s exactly your style,” he added.
Caledon Mayor Marolyn Morrison recalled when she first got into politics in 1988, Kolb was one of the first one who called her to come in and see him.
“He made it very clear that we are all on the same team together,” she recalled, being impressed that the mayor had her in his office.
“One of the things that I have been so impressed with, and even today, I mean you go and there is a problem and Emil will sit in a meeting and come up with a solution,” she said. “Emil thinks out of the box. Emil will find a way of solving the problem.”
“Never underestimate Emil, because he’s very clever,” Mississauga Councillor Pat Mullin observed. “This man can wheel and deal.”
Later in the day, Kolb said he had no plans for his time after he leaves office.
“I am not even thinking about that,” he declared.

         

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