About Darcy Chapman
Born on Manitoulin Island and educated in Business and Accounting in North Bay, Darcy began his municipal career in local government before moving to Grey County in 2007. He found his home in Meaford, married Lisa — a Meaford native — and together they are raising their family here.
Rooted in Meaford
Originally born and raised on Manitoulin Island, I completed a post-secondary education in Business and Accounting at Canadore College in North Bay. I moved back to the Island and started my Municipal career in 2002 before moving to the Parry Sound area and then finally Grey County in 2007 where I worked for The Town of The Blue Mountains. I was fortunate to marry my wife Lisa in 2010, who was born and raised in Meaford, and have created a wonderful family with two daughters. After living in urban Meaford for many years we moved to Bognor in 2020.
I’ve called this area home for two decades now and have watched the area grow and want to be part of the next chapter. I am most concerned with short-term decisions that will be made over the next Council term and how these might impact the community. I am deeply committed to the long-term sustainability of small and rural communities — and to ensuring that Meaford remains a place my daughters can be proud to call home.
With years of success in the public sector, I am seeking to leverage my exceptional financial stewardship, leadership, team building and strategic planning abilities in a new challenge. I work well with established teams motivating and supporting them to look beyond the status quo to develop and implement new initiatives, redevelop processes and identify continuous improvements to gain efficiencies that will set new and sustainable benchmarks for all of Meaford’s services.
What Drives Darcy
Intergenerational Equity
Darcy's focus is on making decisions today that leave Meaford in better shape for the next generation — so his daughters and their peers can still enjoy this community when they are grown.
Accountability & Transparency
Residents deserve a councillor who shows up, speaks plainly, and answers for their decisions. Darcy opposes closed-door decision-making and will always put residents ahead of insiders.
Practical, Experienced Leadership
With 24+ years in the public sector, Darcy brings real financial stewardship, strategic planning, and team-building experience — not just good intentions — to every challenge Meaford faces.
Local Government Experience
I have a highly accomplished career spanning over 24+ years, working with multiple municipalities in developing new processes, procedures and maintaining legislative compliance. I’ve been a strategic advisor across all municipal business functions with the advanced ability to build and manage successful partnerships with key stakeholders, Council members, and fellow executive leaders to support strategic planning and drive continuous improvement. I’m highly skilled in public sector finance, budgeting, long term planning, financial policy development, procurement, development charges, and asset management planning.
As a member of Meaford’s staff from 2013 to 2021 as Treasurer/Director of Corporate Services and for over three years incorporating Fleet, Transportation, Parks and Facilities I have an intimate understanding of the services Meaford provides. While at Meaford, I lead the transition of the Transportation and Fleet Services division incorporating new and best practices which enhanced operations, restructured the Financial Services division to produce better workflow and enhance front line customer service, and reorganized the Parks & Facility Services division to align with new standards for maintenance, cleaning, and operational expectations.
I have been part of teams that negotiated development agreements in the Lora Bay and Camperdown areas (1300+ residential units). I have completed numerous Development Charge Studies, Water and Waster Financial Plans, Building Services Fee Studies, Facility Rationalization Studies and Service Delivery Reviews. Recently I was part of negotiations with a +$2 Billion gold mine operation in Northern Ontario where a community benefit style agreement was developed which included more than $15M in funding towards recreation and wastewater related infrastructure along with temporary housing for 800 construction workers.
One of my most important career accomplishments is acting as Project Manager for the new Meaford Library which included site selection reviews, pre-design community workshops, site purchase, final design and tendering, and daily construction management of the contractor. The project modernized Library operations with a fully accessible location that will serve the community for generations.