I must admit this morning feels a little strange. This is my first experience of a major transition on council, and I hadn't fully anticipated the emotions involved.
Over four years, you develop bonds with the people you serve alongside. You work through difficult issues, disagree, find common ground, and share the responsibility of making decisions for your community. Then, almost overnight, those familiar relationships are disrupted.
Knowing that four of my colleagues won't be returning is strangely discomforting, regardless of where we may have differed on issues. I will miss working with them. Genuinely good people. The human reality is often missed in the clamour of ideas and policies.
I'm genuinely grateful to the people of Stratford for the opportunity to serve another four years. I also want to thank everyone who participated in the election, whether as a candidate, volunteer, or voter. I was heartened to see participation increase. There's a deep reservoir of civic engagement in this community, and I hope we use it wisely.
There's also the practical reality of losing institutional knowledge. In particular, the departure of our finance and infrastructure committee chairs leaves important responsibilities to be filled. We have significant decisions underway, and ensuring those roles are taken on by people with the experience and depth of understanding they require will be essential.
I'm looking forward to working with new colleagues and welcoming the perspectives and energy they will bring.
Elections are about change, but they are also a reminder that public service is built on people, relationships, and conversations, not simply policies and votes.
I'm grateful to be returning, conscious of what we're leaving behind, and looking forward to what comes next.
— Larry McCabe
Written in response to post-election questions from the Stratford Times, October 27, 2026.