It is almost two announcements in one.
This afternoon, Shelley Stedall announced her retirement as CAO of the Township of Stirling-Rawdon, while also filing papers for the top job in Quinte West.
Stedall has been a councillor in Quinte West for four years.
She tells Quinte News it has been on her mind for a while.
“A couple of months for sure. Lots of conversations with different people and some serious soul-searching about what my next steps are. It seemed like the right time and a great opportunity, and I think it’s just time for me to move on to the next steps.”
Stedall says her time working for municipalities and being on council is an asset.
“I really appreciate, even as a staff person, the issues that the public deals with on a regular basis. I hear them when they come talk to me about their taxes or some of their other issues that they may have. I want to be able to bring that to my council role as well.”
The cost of doing business is one of the biggest issues facing residents and municipalities and Stedall says that is front and centre.
“Things are not affordable. If people can’t afford their taxes and their water rates, we can’t move ahead with some of the different projects. We have to think outside the box if we’re going to talk about things like improved infrastructure, our roads, we’ve got water systems, we’ve got growth that’s going on, and we have recreation—some of our aging facilities that need to be revitalized.”
Her announcement is below
After a distinguished 35-year career in municipal government, Shelley Stedall has announced her retirement as Chief Administrative Officer of the Township of Stirling-Rawdon in order to seek the office of Mayor of the City of Quinte West.
Stedall has served as a Quinte West City Councillor for the past four years, a role she describes as a natural extension of her lifelong commitment to public service and community involvement.
“Serving the residents of Quinte West as a Councillor has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” said Stedall. “It has allowed me to combine my professional knowledge of municipal government with my desire to give back to the community I proudly call home.”
While retiring from her CAO role, Stedall will continue working with the Township of Stirling-Rawdon over the coming months to support Council and staff through the transition to a new Chief Administrative Officer and ensure continuity on key initiatives.
A long time resident of Sidney Ward, Shelley Stedall raised her family in Quinte West and continues to maintain strong family ties throughout the Quinte region. Raised and educated in Peterborough, she has spent much of her life living and working in communities across Ontario, giving her a broad understanding of both local and regional issues while remaining deeply connected to Quinte West.
Throughout her municipal career, Shelley has worked with municipalities across Eastern Ontario, from Carleton Place and Smiths Falls near Ottawa to Kingston and west to Quinte West, Trent Hills and Port Hope. She also lived and worked for six years in Western Ontario near Cambridge. Shelley brings extensive experience in municipal finance, strategic planning, capital budgeting, organizational leadership, and change management. She is widely recognized as a trusted team leader, problem solver, and mentor who consistently delivers strong financial results while helping organizations navigate growth, change, and long-term planning.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Stedall has an extensive record of volunteer service, including leadership roles with professional associations, serving as the Quinte West Soccer Club treasurer, and Manager of youth hockey teams. She is a strong supporter of youth recreation, sports, and community organizations that invest in young people through mentorship, leadership development, education, and recreational opportunities, including programs such as 4-H, Scouts, YMCA initiatives, and after-school youth centres.
“As a Quinte West taxpayer and water ratepayer, I understand the challenges and opportunities facing our city,” said Stedall. “Strong financial management is not simply about balancing budgets—it is about maintaining critical infrastructure, delivering quality services, planning responsibly for the future, and keeping taxes and user fees as affordable as possible.”
With family ties to farming, years of experience working in rural municipalities, and a lifelong passion for gardening, Stedall understands the importance of protecting farmland and supporting Quinte West’s agricultural community.
She believes Quinte West’s future depends on balancing growth with the values that have made the city such a desirable place to live.
“We need to continue growing our commercial and industrial tax base, attracting investment, creating jobs, and welcoming newcomers to our community,” said Stedall. “At the same time, we must recognize and respect the families, businesses, farmers, and residents who have helped build Quinte West over generations.”
Stedall’s priorities include maintaining and improving infrastructure and emergency services, supporting affordability, encouraging attainable housing, enhancing transit and active transportation, promoting responsible growth, strengthening economic development, protecting farmland and green spaces, and advocating for improved healthcare services.
“Quinte West is already an exceptional community, but I believe we can make it even better,” said Stedall. “I am excited about the opportunity to put my years of municipal leadership experience to work building a strong future for our city while preserving the values, traditions, and sense of community that make Quinte West such a special place to call home.”
