Mayor’s Tribute to Past North Perth Councillor Meredith Schneider

Below is the text of a tribute shared by North Perth Mayor Todd Kasenberg at the North Perth Council Meeting on Monday, June 14^th for Past North Perth Councillor Meredith Schneider:

It is with sorrow that I announce to our community the death of Meredith “Mert” Schneider. Mert died on Sunday, June 13, 2021.

Mert was born and raised in Wallace Township and was a self-employed farmer on lands in Wallace for 55 years. He began his career in municipal politics in 1980, when I was in Grade 10. He believed firmly in political progression – and served as Deputy Reeve of Wallace Township from 1985 to 1987, then Reeve from 1988-1997. Upon the amalgamation that created North Perth, he stepped up to serve as Councillor, and did so from 1998 to 2018.

Mert was given a special award for longstanding service in municipal government by Ontario in 2006… and he got another 12 years after that. Truly, he served one of the longest stints in municipal politics that I have ever heard of.

During his service as an elected official, Mert served in a variety of committees, including the North Perth Planning Advisory Committee, Municipal Drainage Committee, North Perth Court of Revision, Bluewater Recycling Association, and the Wallace Recreation Committee.

Mert also served as a representative of North Perth on Perth County Council, and as Warden of Perth County in 2016.

Mert Schneider found time to be involved in a number of community causes, including membership in the Perth County Cattlemen Association, the Palmerston Agricultural Society, and the Former Wallace Optimist Club.

I did not serve alongside Mert and knew him only extremely casually. Several Councillors at this table knew him far better than me. I know that he had a passion for North Perth and that he enjoyed his service with and for North Perth, and missed it the last few years. I will remember him being called into service to drive the Warden of Perth County in a local parade, and his wide smile when I greeted him as he undertook that simple service for his long-time friend, Walter McKenzie. He had a commitment to support the traditions and dignity of our political offices.

On behalf of Council, I express sympathies to his wife Nancy, his children Angela, Jason, Paul and Darrell, and to his 9 grandchildren.

I call now for a moment of reflection and of gratitude for a life well lived and well served, Meredith “Mert” Schneider. In honour of his life and public service to our municipality, flags will remain lowered at all Municipal facilities until his funeral on June 17, 2021.

Mayor Todd Kasenberg
Municipality of North Perth

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