Victor M. Power
Encyclopedia
Victor M. Power is a Canadian
politician who served as Timmins
, Ontario
's longest-serving mayor
.
Power attended the University of Windsor
and the University of Toronto
. He later worked as a teacher and guidance counsellor at Timmins High and Vocational School
before entering municipal politics. Power is married to the former Clarice Dillon. They have one son, Kevin, who is a physician in Ottawa
.
He was first elected to city council as a councillor in 1968, and served for twelve years before being elected mayor in 1980. He served as such until 1988, when he was defeated by Dennis Welin
. Power returned to the mayoralty for a term later in 1991 and served continuously until 2000. He first announced his retirement from politics in 2000, and was succeeded as mayor by Jamie Lim
. In the 2003 municipal election
, however, Power challenged Lim and was re-elected mayor.
Power has also served as president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, and as a director of Ontario Northland Transportation Commission
and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario
.
Power's mayoralty has been marked by ongoing efforts to diversify the city's mining
-based economy. In 2004, he received national attention when he criticized the producers of Shania: A Life in Eight Albums
, a television biopic of country
star Shania Twain
, for producing the film in Sudbury rather than Twain's actual hometown, Timmins.
On August 31, 2006, Power announced his second retirement from politics; he would not be seeking the mayoralty in the 2006 elections
. He was succeeded by Tom Laughren
, the sole declared candidate for the mayoralty. On May 31, 2007, the city's airport was renamed Timmins/Victor M. Power Airport in honor of the former mayor. In attendance were several councillors and politicians from across the region.
Power received the Order of Canada
in 2009.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician who served as Timmins
Timmins
Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
's longest-serving mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
.
Power attended the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
and the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. He later worked as a teacher and guidance counsellor at Timmins High and Vocational School
Timmins High and Vocational School
Timmins High and Vocational School is a public English-language high school in Timmins, Ontario. Timmins High and Vocational School includes Grades 9 - 12. It also features a special enriched academic stream; it is the only high school in the City of Timmins to offer Advanced Placement classes. The...
before entering municipal politics. Power is married to the former Clarice Dillon. They have one son, Kevin, who is a physician in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.
He was first elected to city council as a councillor in 1968, and served for twelve years before being elected mayor in 1980. He served as such until 1988, when he was defeated by Dennis Welin
Dennis Welin
Dennis Welin was a Canadian politician who served on Timmins City Council, including a term as mayor of the city from 1988 to 1991. He defeated incumbent mayor Vic Power in the 1988 municipal election, but was in turn defeated by Power in 1991....
. Power returned to the mayoralty for a term later in 1991 and served continuously until 2000. He first announced his retirement from politics in 2000, and was succeeded as mayor by Jamie Lim
Jamie Lim
Jamie Lim was Mayor of Timmins from 2000 to 2003. She was educated at the University of Western Ontario; she holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degree. Lim was an elected school board trustee and city councilor before being elected mayor in 2000, succeeding veteran mayor Victor M....
. In the 2003 municipal election
Ontario municipal elections, 2003
In the 2003 municipal elections in Ontario, voters in Ontario, Canada, elected mayors, councillors, school board trustees and all other elected officials in all of Ontario's municipalities.-Results of election:...
, however, Power challenged Lim and was re-elected mayor.
Power has also served as president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, and as a director of Ontario Northland Transportation Commission
Ontario Northland Transportation Commission
The Ontario Northland Transportation Commission , or simply Ontario Northland, is a Crown agency of the Government of Ontario.ONTC operates the following public services in Northern Ontario:...
and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario
Association of Municipalities of Ontario
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario is a non-profit organization representing municipal and regional governments in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created on June 22, 1972 through a merger of the Ontario Municipal Association and the Ontario Association of Mayors and Reeves...
.
Power's mayoralty has been marked by ongoing efforts to diversify the city's mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
-based economy. In 2004, he received national attention when he criticized the producers of Shania: A Life in Eight Albums
Shania: A Life in Eight Albums
Shania: A Life in Eight Albums is a Canadian television movie, which aired on CBC Television on 8pm on November 7, 2005. It is a biopic of Canadian country star Shania Twain, that was originally scheduled to air in October, but was delayed by the CBC labour dispute...
, a television biopic of country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
star Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
, for producing the film in Sudbury rather than Twain's actual hometown, Timmins.
On August 31, 2006, Power announced his second retirement from politics; he would not be seeking the mayoralty in the 2006 elections
Ontario municipal elections, 2006
In the 2006 municipal elections in Ontario, voters in the province of Ontario, elected mayors, councillors, school board trustees and all other elected officials in all of Ontario's municipalities. These elections were regulated by the .- Date :...
. He was succeeded by Tom Laughren
Tom Laughren
Tom Laughren is the 17th and current mayor of Timmins, Ontario. He took office on December 7, 2006, succeeding retiring longtime mayor Vic Power....
, the sole declared candidate for the mayoralty. On May 31, 2007, the city's airport was renamed Timmins/Victor M. Power Airport in honor of the former mayor. In attendance were several councillors and politicians from across the region.
Power received the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 2009.