By Seth DuChene
Editor
For nearly three decades, Larry Keech sat near the top of the Lennox and Addington County council horseshoe as its chief administrative officer.
Last night, Keech did so for the last time.
Keech, who announced his pending retirement in September, presided over his final monthly L&A County council meeting. Before leaving, council paid Keech a parting tribute by naming the county’s archives the Keech Reading Room and Archives.
During his 29 years with L&A, Keech helped steward the county through some tumultuous times, including massive downloading in the 1990s and the amalgamation of its then 13 municipalities into its four current municipalities in 1998.
Keech addresses L&A County council one last time as CAO. (Seth DuChene Photo)
In his sometimes emotional parting remarks, Keech admitted that leaving the job wasn’t easy, despite the fact that he’s taken part in hundreds of council and committee meetings, and recorded and edited thousands of motions and resolution. “One would think that I should be delighted to be moving away from agendas and meetings towards retirement next week, but the fact is I’m filled with mixed motions,” he told county council and assembled staff. “One one hand, I’m quite ready to pass along all the stresses and strains of the role of CAO. On the other hand, I am finding it very difficult to say goodbye to something that has been a very significant part of my life for almost three decades.”
He went on to thank county council for the opportunity to serve, and thanked staff for their support and friendship over the years. “Working together, council and staff, we have addressed many issues and challenges and accomplished a great deal. Hopefully, our efforts have helped to make L&A a better place to live, to work and to play,” he said.
He also thanked his wife, Katherine Quinlan, who attended her first county council meeting on Keech’s final night. “Even though this is her first council meeting, she has routinely heard about others. Over the years, when I have been particularly stressed by some work-related issue, she has always been able to make it seem less of a burden by providing thoughtful, additional perspective, and a very steady interpretation,” he said.
He joked that, in retirement, he now has time to “get working on the things on both my ‘bucket list’ and ever-present ‘honey do’ list.”
Keech is the county’s 10th clerk and second CAO in L&A’s 153-year history. Before becoming CAO 29 years ago, Keech served as clerk for Camden East Township. Before that, he also served a term as a councillor for Camden East at the age of 22.
His public service hasn’t always been at the municipal level. After his stint as a councillor, Keech served as executive assistant to a cabinet minister and premier at Queen’s Park, executive director of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and senior advisor to a federal cabinet minister in Ottawa before returning to the municipal sphere.
“My long career in public service over the past 43 years has been very rewarding. I am especially grateful for the many challenges and opportunities presented during the last three decades with L&A. I have learned many things, made many friends, and have many memories that I will cherish forever,” he said.
One by one, county councillors also paid tribute to Keech and his work as CAO.
“You’re one of the people I think of — and I don’t often use this term for someone — that’s a true gentleman, in the classic sense of the word,” said Stone Mills Deputy Reeve John Wise, who recalled first meeting Keech when he worked at Camden East Township. “Not only are you kind and thoughtful, you’re intelligent and you’re well-educated, and every decision you make is considered objectively, but also with compassion. That’s, to me, what it means to be a gentleman. It’s not that common a thing any more.”
Last week, L&A County announced that it would be appointing Brenda Orchard, who is leaving her job as CAO of Huron County to take the L&A posting. Her appointment takes effect on Aug. 8.