Thunder Bay Mayors

• Standing Committees:

  • Finance and Administration

  • Growth

  • Quality of Life

• Anti-Racism & Equity Advisory Committee

• Community Safety & Well Being Advisory Committee

• Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee

• Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors

• Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association

• Ontario Big City Mayors

• Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission

• Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

• Thunder Bay District Board of Health

• Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board

• Thunder Bay Police Services Board

Saul Laskin was born in Fort William and completed his education in both Fort William and Toronto. In 1937, he returned to the region and worked at a clothing store and at his father's furniture business. After serving overseas during the war, Laskin took over his father's business and founded his own store, Laskin's Furniture and Appliances, which he ran from 1946 into the late 1980s.

In 1959, Laskin was elected Councillor for the City of Port Arthur, marking the start of his political career. He sat on Council for two years and was then elected Port Arthur Mayor from 1962 to 1969. When Port Arthur and Fort William amalgamated in January of 1970, Laskin was elected the first Mayor of the newly formed City of Thunder Bay. Laskin had been a long-time supporter of amalgamation and was thrilled to head the new City of Thunder Bay.

Laskin was very involved with the community and belonged to many organizations and institutions including the Royal Canadian Legion, the Chamber of Commerce, Congregation Darchei Noam, and Lakehead University which bestowed him with an honorary doctorate and the title Fellow of Lakehead University.

In the late 1980s, Laskin and his wife Adele moved from Thunder Bay to Toronto. He resided in Toronto until his death in 2008.

Born: May 15, 1918 in Fort William, Ontario

Died: Oct. 4, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario at the age of 90

Councillor: Port Arthur Councillor 1959-1960

Mayor: Port Arthur Mayor 1962-1969, Thunder Bay Mayor 1970-1972

Walter Melund Assef was born May 31, 1913, in Sioux Lookout. A member of the first Thunder Bay City Council, and a long-time Fort William Councillor, Assef served as Mayor for 11 years. He was first elected in 1973, lost to Dusty Miller for the 1979-1980 term, and then served two more terms until 1985.

During Assef's tenure as Mayor, the governance structure for the City was established and construction projects brought basic infrastructure up to the same standards across the city. Assef campaigned against the construction of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, which had been brought to a plebiscite several times, and refused to attend its opening in 1985.

Assef became a notorious local figure. Sometimes called "Jolly Wally" (a nickname reportedly invented by Prince Phillip), he made news when photographs appeared to show him exercising a certain familiarity with Queen Elizabeth during her visit in 1973. Although popular with voters, others involved in politics found he could be difficult to work with.

Born: May 31, 1913, in Sioux Lookout, Ontario

Died: January 14, 1988

Fort William Councillor: 1961-1964, 1966-1969

Thunder Bay Councillor: 1970-1972

Mayor: 1973-1978, 1981-1985

Eleanor Joan (Dusty) Miller was a long-time Councillor and served as first female Mayor of the City of Thunder Bay. After teaching in Southern Ontario and living in England, she moved back to the Lakehead in 1954 and became heavily involved in the local theatre community. She regularly directed for Port Arthur Community Players, which later became the Cambrian Players, directed for Lakehead Musical Productions, and was a vital member of Theatre Northwest in its early years, later becoming Magnus Theatre. She was also a founding member of Theatre Ontario.

In the late 1960s, Miller studied at Lakehead University and graduated with the Chancellor's Medal for the highest standing achieved by a part-time student. A few years later Lakehead invited her to design and coordinate their drama program. She also taught in the performing arts management program at Confederation College.

Miller was first elected to Thunder Bay City Council in 1974. She chose to run upon realizing that the city's government lacked expertise in arts and culture. Miller was instrumental in developing an arts policy for the city, she was the first chair of the city's Arts and Heritage Committee, and also served on standing committees for family and children’s services, non-profit housing, and architectural conservation. She was elected as Mayor in 1978, and, though defeated in 1980, served on council for two more terms.

Miller was actively involved in the creation of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. The planning for the 1981 Canada Summer Games (and its requisite facilities) also took place during her tenure as Mayor. She has been acknowledged with numerous awards, including the Order of Ontario, and was made a Fellow of Lakehead University.

Born: August 3, 1929, in Fort William, Ontario

Died: February 14, 2012, in Thunder Bay, Ontario

Councillor: 1974-1978, 1985-1991

Mayor: 1978-1980

Mayoral Candidate: 1980, 1982

Jack Masters was born John Gerald Mastrangelo in Fort William. His family spent time in Beardmore before returning to Port Arthur. He studied broadcasting at Ryerson University and worked at CKPR radio before taking a job in television in 1960. As a broadcaster, Masters created the area's first live talk show, "Focus", which evolved into the popular show "Around Town".

He ran in the federal election of 1980, and was elected to the House of Commons as a Liberal, serving until 1984. As well as representing the Thunder Bay-Nipigon riding, he also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of State (Mines), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Communications, and Deputy Whip of the Liberal Caucus. As MP, he helped to obtain funding for the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium and the 1981 Canada Games.

Masters was elected Mayor of Thunder Bay in 1985, one of the few mayors to have never previously served as a City Councillor. He served for two terms until 1991. As Mayor, he steered the city's government out of turbulence and towards a more progressive and forward-thinking culture. His focus included improvements to regional transportation and improving the city's parks and recreational facilities.

Born: Sept. 27, 1931

Member of Parliament: Liberal, Thunder Bay-Nipigon, 1980-1984

Mayor: 1985-1991

David Hamilton was born in Fort William and attended Fort William Collegiate Institute (FWCI) before studying Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He worked in public administration in the United States, and since 2008, has been County Administrator for Hernando County, Florida.

Hamilton served as Councillor for Northwood Ward from 1985 to 1991 before being elected Mayor, a position he held for two terms from 1991 to 1997. One of his priorities as Mayor was to establish closer controls over City spending and launched a major restructuring to help the City government run in a more business-like manner.

City facilities were repaired and debate was held over what to do with a deteriorating Fort William Gardens as well as whether a second storey should be added to the Balmoral police station. A giardia contamination of the water supply in late 1997 brought to the forefront issues of water safety. Hamilton wanted to keep the Loch Lomond supply operational as a backup. Also during Hamilton's tenure as Mayor, Thunder Bay hosted the World Nordic Ski Championships in 1995.

Born: 1950 in Fort William, Ontario

Councillor: 1985-1991

Mayor: 1991-1997

Kenneth Boshcoff was born and educated in Fort William and graduated from Lakehead University, receiving degrees in Economics and Political Science. He continued his post-secondary education at York University where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies.

Boshcoff played a significant part in creating the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, based in Thunder Bay, which was the first medical school to open in North America in thirty-five years. Holding three black belts, he was also involved in the designation of Thunder Bay as the first Martial Arts Capital of Canada and formed the world's first Martial Arts Council.

A long-serving Councillor, Boshcoff was elected Mayor of Thunder Bay in 1997 and served in office until 2003. He also served as President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario from 2002-2003. In 2004, he was elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament for the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding and was re-elected in 2006. Boshcoff ran and was elected again as a Councillor At Large for the City of Thunder Bay in the 2010 election. He again ran for Mayor in 2014, but lost to incumbent Keith Hobbs. He was the Official Opposition Critic for Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FEDNOR) and a standing member for the Committee of Agricultural and the Committee of Natural Resources.

Boshcoff was re-elected as Mayor of the City of Thunder Bay again in 2022.

Born: June 20, 1949 in Fort William, Ontario

Councillor: 1979-1997, 2010-2014

Mayor: 1997-2003, 2022- present

Member of Parliament: Liberal, Thunder Bay-Rainy River, 2004-2008

Lynn Peterson, born and raised in Thunder Bay, has spent more than twenty years in public service. Prior to her election to City Council as a Councillor at Large (2001-2003), she also served four terms (1988-2000) on the Lakehead Public School Board including three years as Chair. Her two terms as Mayor (2003-2010) are remembered for an emphasis on economic development and diversification.

Peterson was a leader in incorporating the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) in 2006. Her work through the CEDC and as Mayor helped to secure contracts for Thunder Bay's Bombardier plant and the City's lead investment in the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute, a boost for the growing knowledge-based sector.

During Peterson's tenure as Mayor, Thunder Bay instituted its first Strategic Plans. The Mayor's Task Force on Civic Pride evolved, in early 2007, into a Clean, Green and Beautiful policy to improve the City's appearance through public art, beautification and environmental greening. Peterson was also actively involved in the Waterfront Development Committee since its founding in 2005.

Peterson served as President on a number of local, regional and provincial committees including the Ontario Public School Boards Association (1996 & 1997), the Thunder Bay District Municipal League (2002), and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (2003). She was elected to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Board of Directors and served from 2002 to 2010.

Born: October 18, 1950

Councillor: 2001-2003

Mayor: 2003-2010

Mayor Keith Hobbs was elected mayor of Thunder Bay, Ontario, in the 2010 municipal election as a first time political candidate. Mayor Hobbs served as a member of the Thunder Bay Police for 34 years, joining in 1976 and retiring in 2010. In 2014, Mayor Hobbs was re-elected for a second term. Mayor Hobbs felt that social progress and economic opportunities went hand-in-hand and advocated that belief on behalf of everyone who lived in the City of Thunder Bay.

The Mayor’s policing career offered a unique insight into the challenges Thunder Bay faced and being on Council allowed him a venue to address community poverty, ethnic and cultural equality, economic diversification that offer good-paying jobs, and housing for all citizens. Mayor Hobbs was compelled to raise the bar in community safety and crime reduction with a commitment to having a safer, inclusive, cleaner, greener, prosperous and proud community with the assistance and partnership of every citizen and business in the City of Thunder Bay.

Mayor Hobbs served on the following Boards and Committees: Advisory Committee on Anti-Racism Clean, Green & Beautiful Committee, City of Thunder Bay Coordinating Committee Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee, Large Urban Mayors Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO), Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors (NOLUM), Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, Sister Cities Advisory Committee, Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission Inc., Thunder Bay Crime Prevention Council, Waterfront Development Committee, Thunder Bay Police Services Board, Shelter House Board, and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (Past President).

Mayor: 2010 - 2018