In his first week in office, Timmins Mayor Steve Black wanted to buy a mine.
Sharing the story of how he wanted to purchase the Ring of Fire is one of the memories he shared about his time in office as he chaired his final council meeting Nov. 13.
Being elected as a councillor in 2010 was a life-changing moment for Black.
When the next election rolled around, he won the mayor’s seat.
Back in 2014 in his first week on the job as mayor, he recalled going to the CAO and announcing his desire to buy a mine. At the time, former owner Cliffs was looking to pull out of the project. Knowing the importance of having what is now Noront come to Timmins, Black wanted the city to have control of its destiny.
“Council doesn’t even know this discussion happened because we then went to a lawyer to ask if we could do it and after some back and forth of going through the Municipal Act, the lawyer determined that we would see several legal challenges if we attempted to buy out the Ring of Fire,” he said.
About a month later, Noront bought the James Bay Lowlands project.
Work to bring the company’s ferrochrome smelter to Timmins is one of the items Black listed as one he’s most proud of during his tenure as mayor.
The Toronto-based mining company is the largest developer in the Ring of Fire and has narrowed down the location for its smelter to two cities: Timmins or Sault Ste. Marie.
“I am extremely optimistic that Timmins is well-positioned for this bid in the coming months,” said Black.
“There’s not a doubt in my mind that logistically, financially, it makes the most sense to be in the City of Timmins and I’m hoping that when that decision is made that that proves to be the case. And wherever I am, I’ll have a smile on my face if that is the case, hopefully it’s on a beach somewhere warm.”
Acknowledging it may have cost him the mayor’s seat, Stars and Thunder is another highlight.
“I think it was still, to this day, even with it possibly costing me an election, was a tremendous event for the community of Timmins,” he said.
“It was truly a heartwarming experience to be through. In a position where you normally only receive the calls of people complaining, whether it be their garbage wasn’t picked up, whether their snow wasn’t removed, whether there’s potholes on the road that they’re upset about, during those weeks that that event was going on and the number of calls and the feedback of positivity and happiness in the community was something special.”
The Timmins Rock junior hockey team returning to town, Connecting Link, bringing in Syrian refugee families, the new customer service area at city hall, and Hollinger Park, are also projects he took pride in.
While council’s role in setting up Living Space — which features an emergency shelter, service hub and transitional housing — was small, Black noted that without the $200,000 council committed, it wouldn’t be a reality today.
The building, he said, serves a tremendous need in the community.
He said it’s also “highlighted a tremendous need in our community because with the building being located where it is across from city hall next to the heart of downtown, it really has brought some of the issues we face as a community to the forefront. And whether people like it or not put it right in people’s faces and started the discussions that need to be happening to address some of those issues.”
In a speech that featured laughter and tears, he also shared some wisdom imparted from his predecessor.
When Tom Laughren, was leaving office, Black said he passed on three things: “Every year is going to be the worst year for snow removal, every year is going to be the worst year for potholes and get off social media. I probably should have listened to him on the third one.”
For the next council, Black wished them the best of luck.
He said everyone who runs for municipal council does so for the right reasons.
“There may be very differing opinions on what is best for the City of Timmins or best for the residents of the City of Timmins, but everyone runs with the right intentions,” he said.
“You will not see me join a taxpayers’ association, you will not see me show up to council on a Tuesday night, and you will not see me criticize their decisions for the next four years. I wish them nothing but the best, even when they embark on things that may not line up with my views, I wish them nothing but the best in trying to do what they believe is right for the community.”
