Good evening, everyone. Thank you for being here for the first meeting of the new term, and thank you for your renewed confidence in this Council. To all who stepped forward—councillor candidates, my fellow mayoral candidate, staff, volunteers, and residents who voted—your participation strengthens our democracy and guides our work. I also want to acknowledge my opponent for her engagement and for contributing to an open, respectful campaign.

Tonight is a fresh start and a continuation. The election reminded us that trust is earned every day—by how we listen, decide, and deliver. We begin that work again, together.

Hudson is ours to support, nurture, and strengthen. Each of us carries a share of that stewardship, making decisions that will outlast our mandates. We bring different perspectives but a shared purpose: to leave the Town stronger, clearer, and better prepared.

Over the last four years, we secured Sandy Beach and the Viviry delta as public, protected lands; adopted master plans for parks, greenspaces, natural areas, and culture; improved kilometres of roads; and began bringing order to long‑term asset management and municipal finances. These foundations matter. The work now shifts from planning and stabilization to implementation—and to making progress visible in daily life.

At our final meeting of the previous term, on October 1, we set out the major projects that continue forward:

• reopening Sandy Beach in 2026 alongside a Conservation and Management Plan shaped by public input;
• advancing strategic planning and municipal asset management tied to the CMQ Action Plan;
• modernizing municipal workspaces;
• delivering the Parks and Greenspaces Master Plan with maintained trails, accessible recreation areas, and biodiversity protection supported by volunteers;
• moving ahead on parking and circulation planning, targeted speed‑abatement strategies, and updated commercial parking requirements;
• implementing the three‑year Cultural Policy Action Plan;
• improving programs and spaces for seniors and youth;
• strengthening public participation tools;
• and establishing an Economic Development Committee in 2026 to support business collaboration, guide sustainable growth, and advance our identity, branding, and website.

Our organization provides the structure; our residents provide the pulse. Depth emerges when we connect the two—when we listen, observe patterns, and understand what lies beneath daily issues. That is where governance becomes meaningful.

As we begin this term, the first 90 days are about setting tone and momentum: how we work, decide, and communicate as a Council and with the Director General and staff. Our focus is alignment, clarity, and visible progress. We will ground our early work in three pillars:

1) Strengthening governance and communication—confirming roles, decision‑making rules, and expectations.
2) Clarifying how we maintain what we own and invest wisely in what comes next—building on our asset management plan and financial frameworks.
3) Supporting the people who serve Hudson every day—ensuring stability in key roles, improving work environments, and reinforcing pride in serving the Town.

In the months ahead, we will welcome new council members, align our orientations for the next four years, and renew clarity on the budget, capital investment plan, and priority projects.

Budget 2026 preparation will follow a structured process to review expenditures, capital planning, projected revenues, taxation scenarios, and the 2026–2028 PTI. Working sessions on November 20, 22, and 29 will examine departmental budgets, financial forecasts, assessment roll fluctuations, and required adjustments.

We plan to adopt Budget 2026 and the PTI 2026–2027–2028 at a special meeting on December 15, 2025.

To our residents—here or watching from home—we will continue to provide clear, plain‑language updates on what we are doing and why. We will keep explaining the story behind decisions, whether they concern finances, conservation, infrastructure, or the heart of our village.

To my fellow councillors: thank you for your willingness to serve. Each of you brings experience, questions, and convictions that help us see more clearly. My commitment as mayor is to listen deeply, synthesize honestly, and keep us focused on what the Town can realistically deliver, step by step.

Hudson has always been more than the sum of its bylaws and budgets. It lives in the care people show for neighbours, heritage, trails, trees, and the small rituals that make this place feel like home. Our job is to protect the conditions that allow that care to flourish.

With that, I declare this meeting open. Let us begin this new term with humility, discipline, and a shared sense of purpose—for the greater common good.