By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
Editor’s note: The municipal election will take place on October 24. The Haldimand Press is reaching out to the candidates running for mayor and councillor positions so Haldimand residents can get to know their choices.
HALDIMAND—Shelley Ann Bentley has been watching Haldimand County grow and change over the last several years, and she is not a fan of the direction it’s taken.
“Yesterday has not made today better for Haldimand residents. Our infrastructure has not kept pace with our irresponsible development,” said Bentley on what concerns her most in the community.
Born in Mount Hope, the youngest of six, Bentley credits the Christian values she gained from attending church with giving her a sense of community. Losing her father at 9, she found herself spending a lot of time on a hobby farm owned by her sister and brother-in-law in Peacock Point. She later worked at Hoover’s Marina in Nanticoke and the Selkirk Deli (now known as Sunflower Café). Having grown to love the area, she now lives in Selkirk.
Bentley studied nursing at Mohawk College, graduating in 1994. With 28 years in nursing, working primarily out of St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton, she called it a “rewarding career that has instilled compassion and empathy for others,” where she “advocated for those with little voice … whether it was my patients or my co-workers.”
She said her experience working on weekends, holidays, and rotating shifts means she knows what it means to sacrifice family time in service to others, a quality she sees as critical for the mayor. Bentley said her decision to run came after discussing the prospect with family and friends.
“We have all seen Haldimand County changing, and I do not believe that this change comes with the support of the majority of our residents. We need responsible growth and transparency. By listening to the residents of Haldimand County we can work towards building a community we can all be proud of. We need change and I believe I am that change.”
She further criticized the recent developments: “There is more traffic congestion, longer commutes, and more money spent on fuel. The County has been leap frogging its development north to south, neglecting the transportation corridor. Our schools are over capacity … (and) this is not conducive to our children’s learning environment.”
Bentley is strongly opposed to the proposed Nanticoke development, noting, “There is no discussions about new schools, new hospitals. We have a huge problem recruiting doctors. How will our volunteer fire fighters manage this type of growth?”
She noted the new fire station in Caledonia, which requires tax dollars to build and operate, and questioned how the proposed additional population in Nanticoke could come without costing current Haldimand residents.
“I am tired of the reference that we are an extension of the GTA and the Golden horseshoe,” she continued. “We are Haldimand County, and we need to preserve our rural way of life.”
Bentley also raised concerns of a “severe” mental health and drug addiction issue locally, noting a desire to work with first responders to address the issue head on.
She also wants to improve life for seniors, noting a need for more adult lifestyle housing and facilities within Haldimand, while also providing “proper assistance so seniors can stay in their homes longer.”
Bentley hopes that as mayor she can “unite Haldimand. I believe that all wards matter and there should be equal treatment for all. I will listen to the people of Haldimand and bring their issues to the table.”
She iterated that she does not see the mayor’s role as a “stepping stone” to the provincial government, but intends to make a difference at home: “I have the determination and the heart to follow through!”
Online voting opens on Friday, October 7, 2022. For more information on how to cast your vote digitally, or in person, visit haldimandcounty.ca/election.
