After 15 years around the Tecumseh Council table, Rita Ossington is saying goodbye.
Council held its last meeting of the 2014-2018 term Tuesday night giving Ossington quite the send off with many thanks from fellow council members followed by a standing ovation.
Ossington first got involved with the town as a volunteer in the 1980's — she then went on to serve as BIA coordinator in the 1990's before getting elected as the Ward 1 councillor in 2003.
She says she'll miss interacting with the residents the most.
"The service to the town and answering those late night phone calls, early morning phone calls from people who are having difficulty and directing them and telling them how to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. That's the part that I will miss the most."
Ossington says Tecumseh will always be her home and she plans to stay involved.
"I'm not going anywhere. I still live in Tecumseh and I will stay involved. I'm not a person who lets the grass grow under their feet. I stay involved, I will stay involved and I've put my name in for a couple of committees."
Tecumseh Council at its final meeting of the 2014-2018 term on November 27, 2018 (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
She jokes the biggest change she saw while on council was technology.
"When I came in to council I was the only one who had a computer. I was the only one who had a means of communication other than a home phone line. I had a pager for my work as a consultant so people could get in touch with me anytime of the day or night."
Ossington ran in October's municipal election for the deputy mayor's seat losing to incumbent Joe Bachetti, but she says she's not ruling out putting her name on the ballot again in the future.
Tecumseh's new council will officially be sworn in December 4.
.@TownofTecumseh Council giving councillor Rita Ossington a standing ovation for her 15 years of service to the town #cklw @AM800News pic.twitter.com/RYD1zRgWkb
— Zander Broeckel (@zbroeckel800) November 28, 2018