When she officially leaves municipal politics after the October election, Joan Gatward will have been the longest-serving female councilor in Brant history.
In fact, there aren’t many men who top her 30-year record of service, which includes nine election wins.
Gatward’s entry into local politics began in 1982 when she was elected councilor for the former Township of Oakland. She was 31 and mother to a young daughter.
“My mother-in-law, Margery Gatward, was clerk-treasurer for the Township of Oakland. She was the first woman clerk-treasurer in the province. I’d hear stories about municipal government when we were having coffee around the kitchen table and I found it interesting.”
Gatward was re-elected to two more terms (at the time, they were for three years) in Oakland. While she served, she had two sons, born in 1983 and 1985.
By the time the 1991 election rolled around, Gatward decided to take a break from local politics to spend more time with her family.
Although today women continue make up less than 30 per cent of elected municipal officials in Ontario, Gatward said she served with several women throughout her time on Oakland Township council, which covered a population of about 1,200.
“Women have a lot to contribute,” she said. “We were treated well. We didn’t always agree on things (with our colleagues) but we always treated each other respectfully.”
Gatward made her mark in those early days by initiating the installation of playground equipment in the village – there was none at the time. She also was a big supporter of creating a small recycling program in Oakland before the practice was in vogue, and was the main coordinator of the village’s Canada Day celebrations.
After a 10-year break from municipal politics, Gatward ran in a 2001 byelection, this time for the County of Brant, formed in 1999 through the amalgamation of the Town of Paris and the townships of Brantford, Burford, Oakland, Onondaga and South Dumfries .
At the time, there were 14 wards in Brant and Gatward represented Oakland’s Ward 11. There are now five wards and she is one of two councilors representing Ward 5, which includes Oakland. In 2006, terms of office increased from three to four years.
Although Gatward has served with several women over the years on county council, for this final term she was the sole female voice. She admitted that, at times, she felt her opinions weren’t always valued as much as they could have been.
“I sometimes felt like no one was listening.”
But Gatward said she takes pride in many accomplishments while a county councilor. She was a strong advocate for the new OPP detachment, was behind the expansion of Mount Pleasant Park, helped save Onondaga Hall, was involved in the effort to expand the trail system into Ward 5, and advocated for the construction of a new library in Oakland .
Gatward also has fond memories of helping orchestrate a re-enactment, in 2012, of the Battle of Malcolm’s Mills. It was the last battle of the War of 1812 fought in “The Canadas,” near the village of Oakland.
“I always enjoyed serving my community and helping people,” she said. “It has been an honor. People sometimes say it’s a thankless job but I got a lot of thank yous.”
Leaving behind municipal politics is bitter-sweet for Gatward who considered running in what would have been her 10th election right up to the nomination deadline, when she withdrew her name. Now, 71, she’d like to spend more time with her husband, John, and their grandchildren.
“The older you get, the longer the commitment seems to be,” she said.
Gatward said she plans to serve the community in other ways, as a volunteer and, hopefully, a mentor to a new generation of women leaders.
“Women bring different ideas and perspectives. We play a very vital role in society and deserve to have representation in government. I’d be pleased to help anyone thinking about doing that in any way I can.”