Council hopeful wins volunteer award
One of Clearview’s candidates for the municipal election has won a volunteer service award.
John Broderick, who filed his nomination papers for the new Ward 6 in March, has been honoured by the Huronia West Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police for his service with the Huronia West Snowmobile Trail Officer Patrol (S.T.O.P.).
S.T.O.P. is a partnership between the OPP and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs. Through “community policing,” volunteers such as Broderick improve snowmobiling by increasing public awareness of drinking and riding, educating riders about safety and promoting voluntary compliance with snowmobile laws.
“In 1995, I lost one of my younger sisters to a drinking and driving accident,” said Broderick, who has been a member of S.T.O.P. for 15 years. “So, when the program came along, I wanted to prevent another family from going through what our family did.”
In 1997, Broderick began two years of training from the OPP to be a S.T.O.P. volunteer. He said he is one of three members of his graduating class who still volunteer.
Broderick feels strongly about the role that S.T.O.P. volunteers play in keeping community members safe. “Patrols come across people putting themselves at risk and they may not realize it until you bring it to their attention,” he said.
Given his experience as a snowmobile expert, this election hopeful feels that Clearview’s future lies in tourism.
“I’d like to see a multi-use trail system expanded upon. I think there is so much potential in Clearview and I think we could do better in tourism,” he emphasized.
Broderick owns J&R Cycle power sports store outside of Wasaga Beach with his wife, Rhonda. He and his wife raised their four daughters within 25 miles of the home where his family has lived since the 1830s.
“I’ve spent my entire life in this industry,” explained Broderick. He believes that his business experience, as well as his involvement with every motorized trails group in the area (“in some fashion or another,”) will help him in a role on Council.
Broderick’s leadership experience includes stints as President of the Central Ontario ATV Club, Past President of the Ontario Federation of ATV Clubs and Board Member of Huronia Trails and Greenways.
“I’m a team player and I know how to work with a group,” he said. “I know how to make groups successful.”
This won’t be Broderick’s first kick at the can; in the last municipal election he ran for Ward 5, which was won by Councillor Robert Walker.
This time, however, he has decided to run for the new Ward 6, because he feels his experience better reflects its rural population, instead of half of Stayner’s, which the new Ward 5 includes.
Former Simcoe County District School Board Trustee Connie Leishman is the only other candidate who has filed for election in Ward 6 so far.
Broderick will receive his Ontario Volunteer Service Award at a ceremony hosted by the Ontario Honours and Awards Secretariat in June in Barrie.
