It was a special day for the family of Prince Edward County’s first mayor.
On Friday, county staff held a rededication and renaming ceremony of the now “James A. Taylor Millennium Lookout” in Picton, in recognition of James A. Taylor, Prince Edward County’s first mayor and longtime Conservative MPP, for his commitment to public service to the County.
(Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
Members of Taylor’s family, along with current mayor Steve Ferguson, Councillor Phil St-Jean, Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith and Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams spoke at the plaque unveiling and renaming ceremony.
MPP Smith reminisced on his experiences with Taylor and the similarities in each other’s career path, both working as Minister of Community and Social Services, and Energy respectively.
Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson speaks with Taylor’s wife, Mary, during the honouring on June 17, 2022. (Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
Taylor served as MPP for the riding of Prince Edward Lennox for 17 years starting in 1971 and was a cabinet minister for Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Energy.
In 1998, Taylor became the first mayor of the newly-amalgamated Prince Edward County and served two terms before retirement in 2003.
The newly named James A. Taylor Millennium Lookout on 244 County Rd. 22 near Picton. (Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News
The Millennium Lookout project was proposed by Taylor in 1999 as a project of lasting community interest and celebration of the coming millennium.
Councillor St-Jean had originally brought up the rededication proposal to council in October 2020, a month after Taylor’s passing at the age of 92, however, due to the pandemic the honouring had been delayed.
