Mayor George Bridge is the latest citizen of this town to receive a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
The medal was presented to Bridge at the Feb. 5 council meeting by Perth Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece and Minto deputy mayor Terry Fisk.
Fisk noted Bridge was nominated for the medal by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which has nominated current mayors who head a council in a municipality which has belonged to the organization for at least five years. However, Fisk stated, “that doesn’t do justice” to Bridge’s history of community involvement.
Fisk pointed out Bridge, who was elected mayor in 2010, comes from a family with a long history of involvement in local politics. His father, Milt Bridge served as reeve of Harriston and was a former Wellington County warden and his grandfather, George Bridge, was a former reeve of Palmerston.
A Minto native, Bridge and his wife Susan have three children. He graduated from Norwell Secondary School, then attended Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. He retired as branch manager of Midland TD Bank in 2007 having spent 30 years with TD Canada Trust including 20 years managing branches in Fergus, Hanover, Elmira and Barrie.
He was general manager of the Barrie Agricultural Society and Event Centre for three years, and while living in various communities was involved with the Masonic Lodge and Rotary Club. He is also a past chair of the Harriston Legion branch poppy campaign and is currently president of the Harriston Curling Club.
“That’s the type of person he is and that’s the reason he’s getting a Diamond Jubilee medal,” said Fisk.
With his mother Florence and numerous family members in the audience, an emotional Bridge recalled his late father’s words on community service.
“Dad always said if you’re going to live in a community, give back to the community and I try to live by that,” he stated.
