Council in St. Stephen has bid an emotional farewell to two long-serving local leaders who are not reoffering in the next election in May — Mayor Allan MacEachern and Deputy Mayor Ghislaine Wheaton.
At the final regular council meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Renaud paid tribute to the entire council — thanking them for their commitment to public service.
“As we approach the conclusion of this council term, it is appropriate to pause and reflect on the work that has been undertaken, the challenges that have been navigated, and the progress that has been made on behalf of the residents of the Municipal District of St. Stephen,” he said. “On behalf of the administration, I wish to extend my sincere thanks for your commitment to public service and to the community you represent.”
Renaud said the term — totalling five years for some following amalgamation in 2023 — has not been without its moments of difficulty.
This included the death of Coun. Earle Eastman in May 2025.
“Coun. Eastman served his community with dedication and a clear sense of purpose,” Renaud said emotionally. “His contributions remain part of the work and decisions of this council and his absence has been felt by colleagues, staff and the broader community.”
Renaud previously presented staff with a challenge coin following the town’s corporate services upgrades — and at the end of the council’s term presented one to each member.
On one side is the municipality’s former logo — recently changed as part of its rebranding — and on the other a picture of the council during the swearing-in ceremony.
Deputy Mayor Ghislaine Wheaton will also not be returning to the horseshoe. She served on the council for a decade.
“It’s been a wonderful 10 years,” she told the council. “It is my honour to offer a heartfelt thank you to Mayor MacEachern as he concludes his time in office. I especially thank him for his mentorship along my journey as a councillor. Public service is never an easy path.”
Wheaton said she isn’t done stepping up for her community, though, turning her attention to different committees — including the age-friendly committee and the wellness task force.
Coun. Emily Rodas has also decided not to re-offer. She announced she would not run in the May election in October 2025.
“I take being a councillor very seriously and I’m really proud to represent my community. I wholeheartedly believe that all councillors have a huge responsibility to the people who elected us. To hear you, and be transparent, which is why I don’t take the decision to re-run lightly,” she wrote.
Meanwhile, Wheaton mainly addressed Mayor Allan MacEachern — a 14-year public servant.
St. Stephen is facing significant issues like many other New Brunswick municipalities, including homelessness, affordability, and infrastructure deficits.
The local government has been dealing with approximately 100 individuals experiencing homelessness — which resulted in the provincial government opening a 30-bed shelter on 9 Main Street in late 2024.
It has been an acute source of conflict between the community and the council. Residents have expressed significant concerns about public safety, especially the neighbours in the immediate vicinity of the shelter.
A group of residents has sought a judicial review of a defeated motion to relocate the shelter to outside the municipal boundaries.
Several properties that were purchased by an out-of-province landlord who has let the buildings fall into disrepair have been the subject of the Safer Neighbourhoods and Communities Act. Those properties were seized by the Department of Justice and Public Safety — many have gone up for property tax sale.
The town has also struggled to attract developers to build affordable housing — but recently entered into an agreement with Charlotte County-native developer Tressa Bevington for a 66-unit building — known as The Dock apartments.
It is Bevington’s second property in St. Stephen, fourth in Charlotte County.
The council worked on financial incentives for developers in the last year, which has also helped attract the deWinter family for the construction of a hotel — the St. Stephen Amsterdam Inn and Suites.
But it continues to grapple with ongoing water infrastructure issues, including a 150-year well system in danger of collapse.
The council recently approved $4,579,309.20 for paving of roads and streets through the Municipal Capital Borrowing Board. In August 2024, it was reported that the town had a $17 million backlog in road construction projects.
Despite promises from the Holt government to have a collaborative care clinic within the first 18 months of the mandate, it remains under construction — operating temporarily out of the Charlotte County Hospital.
Council has developed an incentive program for physicians and other health professionals to help recruit and retain them in St. Stephen. This has led to two doctors — both of whom work in the collaborative care clinic.
MacEachern spoke at the end of the meeting thanking the community for entrusting him with 14 years — but also making a plea.
“Before I step away, I want to share something that matters deeply to me, something that goes beyond any single project or term in office is — how we care for our most vulnerable,” he said, holding back tears. “A strong community is not measured by what we build, but by how we show up for one another.”
He said this is a moment that calls for steady leadership.
“We understood that change would not be comfortable, but staying stuck was not an option,” he said. “This is not a time for division and disruption for its own sake. The waters around us are already complex and uncertain.
“We will see the best outcomes by supporting leadership that is committed to working for everyone.”
