As a longtime resident and business owner, Fred Drodge has always been passionate about the community which is why he is hoping to be elected as Innisfil’s Ward 7 councillor this fall.
Drodge has lived in the south end of Innisfil for over 42 years, raising his family and founding the Gilford General Store and other small businesses.
His family has also helped with local charities.
"People that know me always refer to me as the guy who’s first to help out or lend a hand to anyone that has any needs," he said.
Over the last few years Drodge has been familiarizing himself with the municipal processes for town decision making in an effort to prepare himself to represent Ward 7 on council.
“I have good core values and I’m an independent thinker,” he said. “I’ve started paying more attention to how Innisfil operates by watching town meetings and talking to people who are involved in the town and getting a feel for what Innisfil’s future could look like.
"I’m running now because I’m ready to get more involved and help Innisfil move in a positive direction and to keep it a place where we want to live and raise our families.”
With the projected population growth for Innisfil over the next 30 years, Drodge believes smart growth is imperative.
“I now know that for Innisfil to thrive, it needs to grow. With that being said, I want to make sure growth is done in such a way to keep agriculture, forestry, and waterways intact. Meaning, preventing urban sprawl and making sure we grow in the right areas of Innisfil.”
To ensure Innisfil doesn’t lose its close-knit community feel, Drodge also points to the importance of supporting local as growth continues.
“One of the most attractive features of Innisfil is its strong community mindset and by supporting local businesses, you can continue to have that small-town feel while growing into the town we need to grow into,” he added. “This community is everything to me and I want to see it grow the right way.”
In Ward 7 specifically, Drodge has his finger on the pulse of the different issues facing the residents in the ward.
“It consists of very different little villages and vast farmland,” he said. “Each area has different issues and concerns. In Gilford, there’s a current project with Cooks Bay Marina that needs to be addressed, there’s also issues with short-term rentals, and a few residents are having issues with water runoff causing flooding. In Cookstown, they have issues with traffic flow and issues with supporting local businesses—we need to support those businesses so they can survive and thrive. In Fennels Corner and Churchill, they are widening Yonge Street and I’m sure there will be challenges that will need to be addressed. In Lefroy, they have a new school being built with a fair amount of residential building, so traffic flow and safety will have to be monitored. As for the farmers, they can always use our support.”
Drodge describes himself as someone who wears Gilford on his sleeve, and he sees that deep connection to the community as an asset while he hits the campaign trail ahead of the election.
“If I’m elected for Ward 7 councillor, you’re electing an individual just like yourself, someone who lives in Ward 7 and seen where we’ve made good decisions over the years and where we can improve. I’ll do my best to assist with any problems and issues and present them to council. I want Innisfil to be a safe place and a town you love to live in. Simply put, a vote for Fred Drodge as councillor of Ward 7, is a vote for your family and mine.”
