A man with glasses, a beard, and a serious expression, dressed in a black blazer, light blue shirt, and jeans, sitting on a wooden bench in front of a large stack of chopped firewood.

Shawn McKinlay

Councillor Candidate

A lifelong resident and fifth-generation local, Councillor Shawn McKinlay is deeply woven into the agricultural, volunteer, and municipal fabric of the Town of The Blue Mountains.

Having attended Beaver Valley Community School and Georgian Bay Secondary School, Shawn is a self-employed contractor who brings a highly practical, “boots-on-the-ground” perspective to the council table. He is dedicated to managing growth with a steady, even-keeled perspective while actively representing the working families and long-time residents of TBM.

  • Since stepping into public office as a champion for demographic diversity and progress at Town Hall, Shawn has taken on substantial leadership roles in governing town services:

    Chair of Community Services First Half of the Term: Shawn Championed the works of Parks and Trails, The Harbour and the Community Services as a whole.

    Chair of the Operations Committee For the Second Half of the Term: Shawn serves as the Chair of the Operations Portion of the Committee of the Whole, giving him a direct, hands-on role in overseeing TBM's vital municipal infrastructure, roads, and public works systems.

    Diverse Board Stewardship: He actively protects community interests across multiple sectors through his positions on The Blue Mountains Public Library Board, the Thornbury Business Improvement Area (BIA) Board, and the Grants and Donations Advisory Committee, The Volunteer Service Awards Committee, Blue Mountains Attainable Housing Committee and The Grey County Farm Safety Board (Chair).

  • As a local contractor and business owner, Shawn understands the economic pressures facing everyday TBM residents and is focused on practical, long-term solutions:

    Attainable Housing & Daycare Infrastructure: Shawn is a vocal advocate for regional childcare facilities and fast-tracking attainable housing initiatives, recognizing that a sustainable economy requires keeping young families and local workers in the community.

    Balanced Regional Development: He strongly champions an even-keeled approach to growth, focusing on creative zoning and planning solutions that prevent over-densification ("urban stacking") while preserving the town’s natural and rural heritage.

  • Shawn’s commitment to public service follows a proud family tradition—including his uncle, Duncan McKinlay, a former TBM councillor and Warden of Grey County:

    Lifelong Local Involvement: Shawn is a life-member of the local Royal Canadian Legion, a Past Master of the local Masonic Lodge, a past director on the Clarksburg Village Association, and a board member for the Trillium Home Board Loyal Orange Benevolent Association.

    Preserving Regional Identity: Steeped in the area's rich agricultural roots via the Grey County Farm Safety Board, Shawn has also been a proud member of the Beaver Valley Pipes and Drums for 29 years.