A celebration of life for Timmins' longest-serving mayor is set for this week.
The memorial for Victor M. Power is on Wednesday, May 8, at the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre. The public is welcome to pay their respects starting at 6 p.m.
Power died on Feb. 3. He was 89.
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Before entering politics, he was the head of the guidance department at Timmins High and Vocational School.
His political career spanned four decades, starting as a councillor with the former Town of Timmins and later moving up to the mayor's seat after amalgamation.
He first entered municipal politics in 1966 as an alderman. He successfully ran for mayor in 1980 and served for eight years. Following a defeat in 1988, he returned as mayor in 1991 and served continuously until 2000 when he announced his retirement. He returned to politics several years for his final term as mayor from 2003-06.
Over the years he also served as chairman of the Northeastern Ontario Mayors Action Group, commissioner of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, vice-president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities.
The year after he officially stepped away from politics, the Timmins airport was renamed the Victor M. Power Airport. His accolades include Ontario's Municipal Long Service Medal, Chamber of Commerce President's Award, the Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club of Timmins Porcupine, the Governor General's Order of Canada, and Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Medal.
