Two years after a divisive attempt to use her “strong mayor” powers, Caledon Mayor Annette Groves has announced she will not be running for re-election, opting to retire after her current term.
In a Facebook post on Friday night, Groves — announcing her departure from the office after a single four-year term — thanked Caledon residents, town staff, council, her team and her friends and family for their support through the journey.
She said she did not come to her decision lightly, but made it with “careful thought and a deep sense of gratitude … my commitment to this community will always remain,” Groves said in the video. The municipal election in Caledon is scheduled for Oct. 26 of this year.
Groves tried to use her strong mayor powers to fast-track thousands of hectares of development for 35,000 homes, but was blocked in 2024 after the provincial government said half the proposed rezoning approvals lay along the future route of Highway 413.
The move was met by backlash from her constituents, including a town public meeting that lasted nearly seven hours.
In a subsequent April 2024 council meeting, Groves called listening a ”humbling experience.”
