Addington Highlands Reeve Henry Hogg - Dead at 83
Henry Hogg was scheduled to attend a meeting of Lennox and Addington County Council last Wednesday, October 15, but he died that morning. Reeve Hogg, Henry to everybody, had been ill throughout much of this latest term of council, his seventh as Reeve of Addington Highlands, and he was very clear that this would be his last term on council as his health would not permit him to run again. In spite of that, he missed only a handful of meetings.
He chaired what turned out to be his final Council, meeting, on Tuesday, October 7th, and a Commiteee of Adjustment Meeting the following morning.
Christine Reed, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) /Treasurer of Addington Highlands, has worked with Henry throughout her time at the township, over 15 years.
“He had been having so many health issues, but was still able to do his job, and that meeting on October 7 was a very long meeting. We had an Official Plan update and then our full agenda, but Henry was on top pf everything, he was sharp. I remember noticing that. We are all still in shock. It doesn't seem real. He has been longer than any of us at the office,” she said.
The County of Lennox and Addington put out an announcement about Henry's passing on October 15. He served as the Warden of Lennox and Addington County for 5 one-year terms, the most recent being 2023, the first year of the current term of Council.
Heny Hogg was born in Chatsworth Ontario and graduated from the University of Waterloo with a engineering degree. He left the corporate world to become the owner of Pine Crest Marine, which brought him to what would become Addington Highlands. Since the marina was a seasonal business, he worked in the winters as a bus driver and eventually became the owner of North Addington Bus Lines.
He entered municipal politics in 1985, as a member of Denbigh, Abinger, Ashby Township Council, taking on the role of Reeve in the next term. Upon municipal amalgamation, he became the inaugural Reeve of Addington Highlands in 1998. With the exception of the three year term of council between 2005 and 2008, he has served as Reeve every since. In total, he served as Reeve for 30 years, by my count.
In the interview he did with the Frontenac News during the 2022 municipal election, he made particular note of the fact that he was only acclaimed to office once, in 2010. Every other time, 7 since the founding of Addington Highlands, the election was contested.
“I'm used to elections,” he said, “but I've been in member of Denbigh, Abinger, Ashby Township Council, taking on the role of Reeve in the next term. Upon municipal amalgamation, he became the inaugural Reeve of Addington Highlands in 1998. With the exception of the three year term of council between 2005 and 2008, he has served as Reeve ever since. In total, he served as Reeve for 30 years, by my count.
In the interview he did with the Frontenac News during the 2022 municipal election, he made particular note of the fact that he was only once acclaimed to office, in 2010. Every other time, 7 since the founding of Addington Highlands, the election was contested.
“I'm used to elections,” he said, “but I've been in this job too long to make any grand election promises.”
He was proud to be able to help “keep the township moving forward quite well, over the years, even though we have a limited tax base”.
He took a particular interest in the role that Addington Highlands, and Lennox and Addington played in the provincial health system.
The County plays a role by partially funding, and operating ambulance services and a long term care facility as well as funding public health. On top of that, Addington Highlands purchased the Medical Centre in Northbrook and hosts a clinic in Denbigh as well. Henry took particular pride in that.
“This is an expense we took on, but we needed to do it, to make sure it is available to our residents,” he said.
Christine Reed said that in her role as CAO, she met with Henry regularly on township business.
“All decisions are made at the council table, but there is a lot that goes on outside of meetings, and from the start of my time here, I felt that Henry always had my back. In the first couple of years, he checked in on me to make sure I had what I needed to do the job. He was always very kind to me,” she said.
Since his passing last week, she said she has been hearing every day from people around the province, from different agencies and levels of government, who dealt with Henry over the years and wanted to let her, and Henry’s family know, how well liked he was.
Henry is survived by Louise, his wife of 54 years, who is a dedicated community volunteer, and daughters Sharon and Valerie.
Next Steps for AH
With Henry Hogg's passing, Tony Fritsch is currently fulfilling the role of Reeve.
Next month, council could declare the Reeve position vacant and call a by-election.
But the expense involved in a township wide byelection is the same as in a full council election, and a council election is one year away. Council could appoint Fritsch as Reeve, or another member, and in that case the member would need to be replaced.
A ward byelection, which would be less costly than a township byelection, could be called, or council could appoint any township resident to serve out the term. In some cases, the third place candidate from the previous election is chosen, but that is not a requirement under the Act.
The matter will likely be settled either at the first or second November meeting
