Olson will resign as Ward One Councillor and will be replaced through a selection process.
Pelham Ward One Town Councillor Wayne Olson has been chosen by his fellow Councillors to fill former Regional Councillor Diana Huson’s vacant seat for the remainder of the 2022-2026 municipal government cycle.
Last month, Huson announced that she would resign, effective March 15, 2025, to spend more time with her family following the recent death of her father.
Olson was selected during a March 26 meeting of the Town Council. The decision came after Council had reviewed the submissions of nine residents who had put their name forward during an open application process.
The application process had been designated by Council in lieu of a by-election, which many Councillors believed would not have been financially efficient since the next general municipal elections are only a year away.
Another option would have been to simply appoint Olson, who had already put his name forward during a March 5 Town Council meeting. Councillors opted for the open application process, however, in an attempt to avoid creating a vacancy on the lower-tier council.
After considering the nine applications, however, four of the seven voting council members, including Mayor Marvin Junkin, as well as Councillors Shellee Niznik, Kevin Ker, and Bob Hildebrandt, determined that Olson was the best choice, and gave him their support.
Brian Eckhardt was the only Councillor who did not vote for Olson. Eckhardt instead voted for 2022 Pelham mayoral candidate Frank Adamson.
Olson attended the closed session meeting where applications were discussed, but he did not submit a vote. However, he provided written confirmation from the Integrity Commissioner for the Town of Pelham that it would have been permissible for him to vote for himself.
Olson is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran and boasts the credentials of a Chartered Accountant. Among his most notable professional experiences was managing manufacturing operations for MAGNA International. He has also served in leadership roles in various charitable organizations.
The beginning of Olson’s career in local politics can be traced back five years, when he first won a by-election to the Pelham Town Council in 2020. He was then re-elected during the 2022 municipal election.
Olson will resign from Town Council after the next meeting, which is scheduled to take place on April 16. He will then be sworn–in as Pelham Regional Councillor sometime before May 14.
The Pelham Council has ordered that the same application process be followed to fill Olson’s empty seat that was utilized for Huson’s vacancy, and submissions will begin to be received on March 31.
Nick Redekop completed his Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Labour Studies at Brock University. He has previously served in municipal and federal politics. In his free time, Nick enjoys following sports, taking part in outdoor activities, and reading biographies. Nick resides in Niagara Falls
