Mr. Aiden Whelan

Aiden Whelan
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Former Alliston and New Tecumseth councillor Aiden Whelan passed awayFriday morning (April 14) in his 76th year at Toronto General Hospital surroundedby family.In his honour, the flags at the Town Hall are flying at half-mast.

The highest Mr. Whelan climbed on the political ladder was deputy reeveof Alliston over 20 years ago.However, the fact he was "only" a councillorfor the majority of his three decades in office belies the fact he wasa dominant force on the local political landscape, particularly throughthe 1990s where he played key roles in the expansions of water and wastewatersystems in Alliston.

Brian Gauley, who was clerk/administrator/director in pre-amalgamatedAlliston and New Tecumseth, worked closely with Mr. Whelan through thegrowing years.
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"Aiden was foremost a family man.
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The former Town of Alliston andthe present Town of New Tecumseth has been served well by Aiden.He willsurely be missed by many."

New Tecumseth deputy mayor Rick Milne, who was a mayor of Alliston,remembers Aiden as "a strong political figure in the community for twentysome years."
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" I remember one of mycouncil meetings when I was the mayor, we were discussing some matter,we used to have water glasses and water on the table, Aiden got upset thatthings were slowing down, and all of a sudden this great big hammer ofa paw of his came down on the table and there were glasses of flying waterand we very quickly got back on the topic again.He was a gentle giantin many ways."

Mr. Milne also remembers Aiden as an athlete who excelled at sportslike boxing and lacrosse.
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Whelan's last, said that while there wasn't always agreement on particularissues, that there was no questioning his commitment to the town.
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Mr. Whelan did not only leave a mark on local politics.He retired asthe maintenance supervisor at Stevenson Memorial Hospital.He was a 27-yearmember of the Alliston Fire Department, and a volunteer with the AllistonAmbulance service.He was a member of the Alliston Lion's Club, and theAdjala-Tosorontio and West Gwillimbury Conservation Club.And he was aparishoner of St. Paul the Apostle and Immaculate Conception in Adjala.