Sault Ste. Marie Mourns Mayor’s Death
Mayor John Rowswell, deceased August 31st, 2010
Sault Ste. Marie Loses Mayor to Cancer
The Northeast Superior community of Sault Ste. Marie lost their mayor this week. Mayor John Rowswell, had served the city since 2000, winning re-election in 2003 and 2006. Rowswell died Tuesday morning, August 31st, at Sault Area Hospital after a brave and prolonged battle with cancer.
The council is most famous for a controversial language resolution, passed in 1990, which affirmed that English was the sole working language of the city government. The Sault Ste. Marie resolution was not the first of its kind in Ontario, but Sault Ste. Marie was the largest municipality to pass such a resolution and bore the brunt of the controversy. The resolution was subsequently struck down by the courts in 1994.
The mayoral position is currently being filled on a monthly rotating basis by city councillors, with Ward 4 Councillor Lorena Tridico serving as acting mayor in September. A new mayor, if not appointed in the interim, will be elected on October 25 in the 2010 municipal election.
There will be a public visitation at the Essar Centre on Friday, September 3 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. A private family service will be held at a later date. Interment will be at Port Findlay Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Sault Area Hospital Cancer Care Fund.
A book of condolences is available in the Lobby of the Civic Centre between the hours of 8:30 and 6 p.m.
OntarioNewsNorth.com sends its condolences to Mayor Rowswell’s family, friends, colleagues and the City of Sault Ste. Marie.
