Blue Mountains Mayor Andrea Matrosovs was acclaimed as the next Warden of Grey County on Tuesday night.
Matrosovs was the lone nominee to take over the seat vacated by Southgate Mayor Brian Milne.
She was nominated by Southgate Deputy Mayor Barbara Dobreen, who said Matrosovs had what it takes to become just the third female Warden in Grey County history.
"I nominated Andrea for Grey County Warden for her abilities, and to show others now and into the future, that they too deserve a seat at this table," she said. "I know Andrea will continue the great work of those that have gone before, and forge new ground in the coming year."
That motion was seconded by West Grey Mayor Kevin Eccles. Eccles said Matrosovs is intelligent, impartial, and impactful as a leader.
"The letter 'I' starts a lot of the words that describe the character of Andrea," he said. "I is not the pronoun used to identify Andrea as a leader. She leads as 'we.' What we can accomplish as a group, leading this institution, is her goal."
Matrosovs accepted the nomination and was sworn in by Clerk Tara Warder, becoming the first Warden from Blue Mountains in over a decade, since Duncan McKinlay held the title.
In her address to council, Matrosovs said together they would continue to build for the future, so that they can move the needle in constituents’ lives.
"Since beginning on Council in The Blue Mountains, my mantra has been to create a community for all ages and stages of life. We have the opportunity at the county level to make a difference in lives of all ages and stages," she said. "To facilitate growing up, working, recreating, visiting, and aging in a place of choice here in the County because together we address housing, long-term care, early childhood care, emergency services, transportation infrastructure."
Major County initiatives she cited included the construction of Rockwood Terrace, a new Paramedic Services base in Durham, and the Grey County Housing Action Plan.
This is Matrosovs' first term on County council. She was elected Mayor of the Town of The Blue Mountains in 2022 where she has previously served as a municipal councillor since 2018.