John Challinor II, Councillor for the Town of Milton, has been elected as the new Chair of the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA). Shawn Watters, Mayor of Centre Wellington Township, has been chosen as the new Vice-Chair.

The elections took place on January 24, 2025, during the GRCA Board’s general membership meeting. Both positions are voted on annually at the first board meeting of the year. The 26-member GRCA Board is made up of representatives appointed by municipalities within the Grand River watershed.

Challinor, who has served as a part-time Councillor for Milton since 1991 (except for a brief hiatus), is also the Chair of the Town’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. He has been representing the Regional Municipality of Halton on the GRCA Board since 2019.

“I’m excited to take on this new role,” said Challinor. “For nearly a century, the GRCA has been essential to the conservation and management of the Grand River watershed, benefiting the 38 communities that rely on it. Together with Vice-Chair Watters and the dedicated staff of the GRCA, we will work to ensure that this vital resource continues to thrive for generations to come.”

Watters, who joined the GRCA Board in 2022, brings a wealth of experience, having served in various local and county councils for 25 years, including a previous stint on the GRCA Board from 2007 to 2010. He was elected Mayor of Centre Wellington in 2022.

Challinor succeeds Chris White, who served as GRCA Chair since 2021, while Watters replaces Sue Foxton as Vice-Chair, also elected in 2021.