Marie Trainer, Haldimand councillor and former mayor, dies following car crash in September

Haldimand County Ward 4 Coun. Marie Trainer, a former mayor of the county, has died as a result of complications due to a car crash on Sept. 7, her son Steven Trainer said in a Facebook post.

The Oct. 31 post said that "at 730 this morning our beloved mother passed away from complications due to her September 7th car accident."

"Hopefully you and Dad have a happy Heaven mom." 

A statement on the Haldimand County website said, "our deepest condolences go out to Councillor Trainer's family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time. Flags at the county administration building will be flown at half-mast to honour Councillor Trainer and her decades of service to the community."

Trainer was first elected as a councillor for Hagersville in 1985, then went on to serve as mayor of the Town of Haldimand from 1991 to 2000. She was also the mayor of Haldimand County from 2003 to 2010.

Trainer has been serving the county as Ward 4 councillor since she was elected during a byelection on June 20, 2023.

The statement from the county said she "had deep roots in the community and worked hard to ensure that resident concerns were heard at the Council table. She was an advocate for sustainable land use and preserving the community's traditional rural values, and sat on several boards and committees throughout her time as an elected official."

Haldimand County Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley said, in that statement, that "she will be remembered for her dedication to public service and determination to make the community she knew and loved the best it could be. Her absence will be felt by everyone who had the opportunity to know her and her legacy will not be forgotten."

Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady said on Instagram that she was "blessed to have Marie as a friend and mentor. I'll miss deeply her genuine smile and warm hug as she greeted you, which was typically followed up with business matters."

Her family plans to honour her life with a visitation at the Hyde & Mott Chapel at R.H.B. Anderson Funeral Homes in Hagersville, Ont., on Monday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.