Thirty-three years with the OPP. Eight years on council. One hometown he still cares about.
Pete Luciani has spent much of his working life in public service. After 33 years with the Ontario Provincial Police, he returned to his hometown of Tillsonburg and found another way to contribute. Now, having decided not to seek re-election to town council, Luciani is closing one chapter of that service.
But listening to him talk about Tillsonburg, it's clear that stepping away from council doesn't necessarily mean stepping away from his community.
That desire to give back came after a long career with the OPP, where Luciani worked in various locations across Southern Ontario. Much of his 33 years was spent in Forensic Identification Services, eventually becoming the inspector in charge of the province's Forensic Identification and Photographic Services program. It was work that involved major changes in how forensic evidence was collected and handled, including the move from film to digital photography and improvements to the equipment and facilities used by forensic investigators.
Looking back, Luciani points to the modernization of the OPP's forensic services as one of his biggest professional achievements.
After retiring, Luciani turned his attention to his hometown. He co-chaired the Tillsonburg Dog Park Committee and served on the Memorial Park Revitalization Committee before taking on the work of municipal government.
He said he wanted to help address things he felt needed improvement, while getting to know the town again after years spent working elsewhere. During his time on council, Luciani says he has seen many of the priorities that prompted him to run move in the right direction. He believes the town is being run well and expects to miss both the work and the people around the council table.
One of the issues he continues to see as important is how Tillsonburg manages growth. He believes the town can preserve its small-town character while recognizing that residents also want access to services and amenities found in larger communities.
Public transit is part of that picture, Luciani said, particularly for people who don't drive. He noted that in-town transit continues, while work on connections beyond town has also been underway.
For Luciani, managing growth isn't simply about attracting more people. It's about making sure the community has the services and infrastructure residents need, while holding on to what makes Tillsonburg special.
He has lived and worked in communities across Ontario, but says Tillsonburg stands out. And although he's leaving the council table, he hasn't ruled out continuing to serve through town committees.
For now, he plans to make room for personal interests. But when asked what he would like to leave residents with as his time on council ends, he returned to his belief in the community.
It's a simple message from someone who has spent decades in public service — first across Ontario with the OPP, and then back home in Tillsonburg. His time on council is ending, but Luciani is leaving the door open to whatever form of community service comes next. And his confidence in the town suggests that, for him, there's still plenty worth contributing to.
