Port Arthur Councils

From 1884 until 1969, when the city became part of Thunder Bay, Port Arthur was governed by 83 separate City Councils and 28 Mayors. Learn more about them below.

1880s

1884 - Mayor Thomas Marks

Members of Council:

Richard Vigars - Ward 1
George H. Kennedy - Ward 1
John Cann Hasking - Ward 1
William George Smith - Ward 2
James Dickson - Ward 2
William Margach - Ward 2
James Farrand Ruttan - Ward 3
Alexander Lord Russell - Ward 3
John Taylor Mackay - Ward 3

1885 - Mayor James Conmee

Members of Council:

Richard Vigars - Ward 1
Robert Edwin Mitchell - Ward 1
George Thomas Marks - Ward 1
Dr. Thomas S. T. Smellie - Ward 2
William Jerrett - Ward 2
William Margach - Ward 2
George Hugh Macdonell - Ward 3
James Patrick Donnelly - Ward 3
John Henry Bartle - Ward 3

1886 - Mayor George Hugh Macdonell

Members of Council:

Samuel James McLaren - Ward 1
George Thomas Marks - Ward 1
James Joseph O'Connor - Ward 1
George Wesley Brown - Ward 2
Albert Crysler - Ward 2
William Margach - Ward 2
Andrew T. R. Blackwood - Ward 3
William Currie Dobie - Ward 3
James Meek - Ward 3

1887 - Mayor George Hugh Macdonell

Members of Council:

George Thomas Marks - Ward 1
Samuel James McLaren - Ward 1 - Left town October 1887
James Joseph O'Connor - Ward 1
William George Smith - Ward 2
George Wesley Brown - Ward 2
James Dickson - Ward 2
John Taylor Mackay - Ward 3
Charles Cordingley - Ward 3
William Currie Dobie - Ward 3

1888 - Mayor George Hugh Macdonell

Members of Council:

Thomas Ambrose Gorham - Ward 1
James Joseph O'Connor - Ward 1
Caleb Hubert Shera - Ward 1
William George Smith - Ward 2
James McTeigue - Ward 2
William Currie Dobie - Ward 2
James Allen Fraser - Ward 3
James Farrand Ruttan - Ward 3
John Taylor Mackay - Ward 3

1889 - Mayor Thomas Ambrose Gorham

Members of Council:

Peter Nicholson - Ward 1
Caleb Hubert Shera - Ward 1
William James Bawlf - Ward 1
George Wesley Brown - Ward 2
James McTeigue - Ward 2
John Edward Johnston - Ward 2
James Allen Fraser - Ward 3
James Farrand Ruttan - Ward 3
Henry Lidstone Elliott - Ward 3

1890s

1890 - Mayor Aaron Squier

Members of Council:

William James Bawlf - Ward 1
William Phoenix Cooke - Ward 1
Richard Vigars - Ward 1 - Compelled to resign
Robert George Spofford - Ward 1
John Edward Johnston - Ward 2
George Wesley Brown - Ward 2
James Dickson - Ward 2
Dr. Geoffrey Strange Beck - Ward 3
James Allen Fraser - Ward 3
Robert Edwin Mitchell - Ward 3

1891 - Mayor James Farrand Ruttan

Members of Council:

Richard Vigars - Ward 1 - Resigned on September 14, 1891
Robert George Spofford - Ward 1
William Phoenix Cooke - Ward 1
Charles Octave Lalonde - Ward 1 - Replaced Vigars on September 24, 1891 - December
William John Inglis - Ward 2
George Wesley Brown - Ward 2 - Resigned on September 14, 1891
Franklin Samuel Wiley - Ward 2 - Resigned on September 14, 1891
Samuel James McCutcheon - Ward 2 - Replaced Brown on October 3, 1891 - December
William Charles Woodside - Ward 2 - Replaced Wiley on October 3, 1891 - December
Dr. Geoffrey Strange Beck - Ward 3
Robert Edwin Mitchell - Ward 3
George Mooring - Ward 3

1892 - Mayor James Farrand Ruttan

Members of Council:

William Phoenix Cooke - Ward 1
William John Barrie - Ward 1
Charles Octave Lalonde - Ward 1
Samuel James McCutcheon - Ward 2
James Charles Banks - Ward 2 - Resigned on July 11, 1892 - was not replaced
Malcolm Nicholson - Ward 2
Dr. Geoffrey Strange Beck - Ward 3
George Mooring - Ward 3
Robert Edwin Mitchell - Ward 3

1893 - Mayor George Thomas Marks

Members of Council:

George Hodder - Ward 1
Charles Octave Lalonde - Ward 1
William Phoenix Cooke - Ward 1
William James Bawlf - Ward 2
James Michael Neelin - Ward 2
George Wesley Brown - Ward 2
Dr. Geoffrey Strange Beck - Ward 3
Alexander Lord Russell - Ward 3
John Boulter - Ward 3

1894 - Mayor George Thomas Marks

Members of Council:

George Hodder - Ward 1
James Michael Neelin - Ward 1
J. J. H. McLean - Ward 1 - Resigned on November 13, 1894
William Charles Woodside - Ward 1 - Replaced McLean on November 8, 1894- December
Daniel Francis Burk - Ward 2
George Wesley Brown - Ward 2
William James Bawlf - Ward 2 - Resigned in October, 1894
William Joseph Hasking - Ward 2 - Replaced Bawlf on November 8, 1894 - December
Joseph A. Brimson - Ward 3
Dr. Geoffrey Strange Beck - Ward 3
Caleb Hubert Shera - Ward 3

1895 - Mayor George Thomas Marks

Members of Council:

George Hodder - Ward 1
William Phoenix Cooke - Ward 1
James Michael Neelin - Ward 1
Daniel Francis Burk - Ward 2
George Wesley Brown - Ward 2
Samuel James McCutcheon - Ward 2
William Samuel Beaver - Ward 3
Caleb Hubert Shera - Ward 3
John Boulter - Ward 3

1896 - Mayor George Thomas Marks

Members of Council:

George Hodder - Ward 1
Issac Lamont Matthews - Ward 1
William Phoenix Cooke - Ward 1
Daniel Francis Burk - Ward 2
James Michael McGovern - Ward 2
Samuel James McCutcheon - Ward 2
William John Rapsey - Ward 3
William Howard Hesson - Ward 3
John Boulter - Ward 3

1897 - Mayor George Thomas Marks

Members of Council:

George Hodder - Ward 1
John Lovell Meikle - Ward 1
Issac Lamont Matthews - Ward 1
Daniel Francis Burk - Ward 2
Samuel James McCutcheon - Ward 2
James Michael McGovern - Ward 2
William John Rapsey - Ward 3
William Howard Hesson - Ward 3
John Boulter - Ward 3

1898 - Mayor George Thomas Marks

Members of Council:

Issac Lamont Matthews - Ward 1
John Lovell Meikle - Ward 1
James Michael McGovern - Ward 1
Daniel Francis Burk - Ward 2
William Charles Woodside - Ward 2
William McBrady - Ward 2
John Boulter - Ward 3
William Kittle - Ward 3
William Howard Hesson - Ward 3

The Municipal Amendment Act 1898, stated that the Council of every Canadian town with less than 5,000 citizens would elect a Mayor and six Councillors based on a general vote, instead of using the existing ward election system. Therefore, starting in 1899, the citizens of Port Arthur no longer elected three Councillors from each of the three wards as was previously stated in the 1884 Act.

1899 - Mayor George Thomas Marks

Members of Council:

John Boulter
William Howard Hesson
Daniel Francis Burk
Issac Lamont Matthews
William Phoenix Cooke
Alexander Lord Russell

1900s

1900 - Mayor George Hugh Macdonell

Members of Council:

Issac Lamont Matthews
George Onésime Philémon Clavet
John Boulter
Daniel Francis Burk
William Phoenix Cooke
Joseph Goodwin King

1901 - Mayor Issac Lamont Matthews

Councillors Notes of Interest

James Woodside
Samuel Wellington Ray
William Phoenix Cooke
James Michael Nellin
Joseph Goodwin King
Daniel Francis Burk

1902 - Mayor Issac Lamont Matthews

Members of Council:

Samuel Wellington Ray
James Michael Neelin
William Phoenix Cooke
James Woodside
George Onésime Philémon Clavet
Caleb Hubert Shera

1903 - Mayor George Onésime Philémon Clavet

Members of Council:

William Phoenix Cooke
George Francis Hourigan
Caleb Hubert Shera
Joseph Goodwin King
Thomas Nicholas Andrew
Samuel Wellington Ray

1904 - Mayor George Onésime Philémon Clavet

Members of Council:

Samuel Wellington Ray
Thomas Nicholas Andrew
George Francis Hourigan
William Phoenix Cooke
John Boulter
Joseph Goodwin King

1905 - Mayor Richard Vigars

Members of Council:

Samuel Wellington Ray
Franklin Burton Allen
Malcom Gilbert McKinnon
Robert Ferguson
George Francis Hourigan
Joseph Goodwin King

1906 - Mayor George Onésime Philémon Clavet

Members of Council:

William Phoenix Cooke
George Francis Hourigan
Thomas Nicholas Andrew
William John Rapsey
Malcolm Gilbert McKinnon
Robert Ferguson

In 1907, Port Arthur was incorporated as a City by the Ontario Legislature. The act stated that two additional Aldermen were to be elected along with the six Councillors already in place. The act also stated that starting with 1908 the Council would be made up of a Mayor and eight Aldermen elected by general vote.

On July 3, 1907, an election was held to replace Thomas Tennant who had recently resigned, and to elect the two additional Aldermen permitted by the Act.

1907 - Mayor George Onésime Philémon Clavet

Members of Council:

John James Carrick
George Francis Hourigan
Samuel James McCutcheon
Swan Enborg
Robert Ferguson
Thomas Tennant - Resigned
Robert George Spofford - Elected July 3, 1907
John Bowman - Elected July 3, 1907
Neil McDougall - Elected July 3, 1907

1908 - Mayor John James Carrick

Members of Council:

Robert Anderson Ruttan
Robert L. F. Strathy
Herbert Barber Dawson
Edward J. B. Dobie
John Bowman
John Hartley Woodside
Neil McDougall
William John Schwigler

1909 - Mayor Issac Lamont Matthews

Members of Council:

John L. McRae
James Michael McGovern
Daniel Francis Burk
Joseph Goodwin King
Robert Ferguson
John Oswald Hourigan
Charles McKinnon
George Mooring

1910s

1910 - Mayor Issac Lamont Matthews

Members of Council:

Daniel Francis Burk
James Michael McGovern
Samuel Wellington Ray
James Albert Oliver
Robert Anderson Ruttan
John Bowman
Edward J. B. Dobie
Joseph Goodwin King - Died on July 30, 1910
Andrew Boyd - Replaced King in late August

1911 - Mayor Samuel Wellington Ray

Members of Council:

Robert Anderson Ruttan
George Henry Otto
George Ferguson Foote
James Patrick Mooney
James Michael McGovern
Herbert Barber Dawson
William Pitt Riley
Frederick Urry

1912 - Mayor Samuel Wellington Ray

Members of Council:

William Phoenix Cooke
John Marshall
Frederick Urry
Lester Cain
John Albert Oliver
Malcolm Colin Campbell
Robert George Spofford
James Patrick Mooney

The 1907 act which incorporated Port Arthur as a City stated that when its population reached 15,000 the Council was to be made up of 10 Aldermen elected by a general vote, instead of eight. In March of 1913, the population of Port Arthur reached 15,000 and runners-up Burriss and McEachern joined Council.

1913 - Mayor John Albert Oliver

Members of Council:

William Phoenix Cooke
Malcolm Colin Campbell
Robert George Spofford
Lester Cain -
William Arvi Kyro
Walter H. G. Gordon
Euclide Bonin
Donald James Cowan
Rufus Allen Burriss - Joined Council on March 10, 1913 - December
William Turner McEachern - Joined Council on March 10, 1913 - December

1914 - Mayor John Albert Oliver

Members of Council:

William Phoenix Cooke
Malcolm Colin Campbell
Donald James Cowan
Euclide Bonin
William Marrigan
Lester Cain
Robert George Spofford - Died on July 26, 1914
Frederick Urry
Rufus Allen Burriss
Walter H. S. Gordon
Sidney Wilson - Replaced Spofford in early August, 1914

1915 - Mayor James Patrick Mooney

Members of Council:

Donald James Cowan
Euclide Bornin
Arthur Hodgins
Rufus Allen Burriss
James Sidney Smith
Albert Langman Smith
Sidney Wilson
Roderick Munro Young
William Marrigan
Lester Cain

1916 - Mayor Donald James Cowan

Members of Council:

George Gibbon
Edward John Blaquier
Levi James Fallis
James Sidney Smith
Leo J. B. Bolduc
Alexis G. J. R. Alexander
Arthur Melville Woodside
Albert Langman Smith
Roderick Munro Young
Sidney Wilson - Resigned on May 29, 1916
George Henry Slipper - Replaced Wilson on October 2, 1916

1917 - Mayor Donald James Cowan

Members of Council:

William Marrigan
George Gibbon
Levi James Fallis
James Smith McNulty
Alexis G. J. R. Alexander
Edward John Blaquier
Bert Tourtellot
Roderick Munro Young
William Alexander Wright
Arthur Melville Woodside

1918 - Mayor Edward John Blaquier

Members of Council:

James Smith McNulty
Levi James Fallis
George Gibbon
Bert Tourtellot
Roderick Munro Young
Charles Brikett
William Alexander Wright - Died on November 19, 1918
Charles Norman Simpson
Harry J. Sterling
Frank Duncan Roberts

1919 - Mayor Edward John Blaquier

Members of Council:

Frank Duncan Roberts
Roderick Munro Young
James Smith McNulty - Resigned on October 14, 1919
Leo J. B. Bolduc
Sidney Wilson
Bert Tourtellot
George Gibbon
Reginald Crofts Powell
James Asher Dunbar
Martin John Kenny
William Phoenix Cooke - Replaced McNulty on October 18, 1919

1920s

1920 - Mayor Issac Lamont Matthews

Members of Council:

James White Crooks
John Oswald Hourigan
Leo J. B. Bolduc
Sidney Wilson
James Asher Dunbar
Arthur Melville Woodside
Reginald Crofts Powell
Frederick William Barton
William Phoenix Cooke
William Brown Sime

1921 - Mayor Issac Lamont Matthews

Members of Council:

James White Crooks
John Oswald Hourigan
Leo J. B. Bolduc
Frederick William Barton
Dr. George Edwin Eakins
Lester Cain
William Phoenix Cooke
Reginald Crofts Powell
James Asher Dunbar
James Jenkins Southern

In October 1921, the Port Arthur Council enacted a by-law, to be put in effect January 1922, stating that Aldermen would be elected to two-year terms. Elections would be held each year to fill half of the Council seats. The elections of January 1922 assigned half of the elected Aldermen to two-year terms and half to one-year terms, so that only five would be up for election again in 1923.

1922 - Mayor Issac Lamont Matthews

Members of Council:

James White Crooks - 2 Years to December 1923
John Oswald Hourigan - 2 Years to December 1923
Leo J. B. Bolduc - 2 Years to December 1923
Dr. George Dewin Eakins - 2 Years to December 1923
Frederick William Barton - 2 Years to December 1923
Reginald Crofts Powell - 1 Year to December 1922
James Asher Dunbar - 1 Year to December 1922
Lester Cain - 1 Year to December 1922 - Resigned in April 1922
James Jenkins Southern - 1 Year to December 1922
William Phoenix Cooke - 1 Year to December 1922
George Gibbon - 1 Year to December 1922 - Replaced Cain in August 1922

1923 - Mayor Issac Lamont Matthews

Members of Council:

James White Crooks - 2 Years to December 1923
John Oswald Hourigan - 2 Years to December 1923
Leo J. B. Bolduc - 2 Years to December 1923
Dr. George Edwin Eakins - 2 Years to December 1923
Frederick William Barton - 2 Years to December 1923
Dr. Herman R. Bryan - 2 Years to December 1924
William Phoenix Cooke - 2 Years to December 1924
George Gibbon - 2 Years to December 1924
Reginald Crofts Powell - 2 Years to December 1924
James Jenkins Southern - 2 Years to December 1924

1924 - Mayor James White Crooks

Members of Council:

John Oswald Hourigan - 2 Years to December 1925
Dr. Charles Norman Simpson - 2 Years to December 1925
Leo J. B. Bolduc - 2 Years to December 1925
Frederick William Barton - 2 Years to December 1925
John 'Jock' Murray - 2 Years to December 1925
George Gibbon - 2 Years to December 1924
Dr. Herman R. Bryan - 2 Years to December 1924
William Phoenix Cooke - 2 Years to December 1924
James Jenkins Southern - 2 Years to December 1924
Reginald Crofts Powell - 2 Years to December 1924 - Resigned on February 17, 1924
Joseph William White - 2 Years to December 1924 - Replaced Powell on May 26, 1924

1925 - Mayor James White Crooks

Members of Council:

William Phoenix Cooke - 2 Years to December 1926
George Gibbon - 2 Years to December 1926
James Jenkins Southern - 2 Years to December 1926
Joseph William White - 2 Years to December 1926
Kenneth Campbell - 2 Years to December 1926
John Oswald Hourigan - 2 Years to December 1925
Leo J. B. Bolduc - 2 Years to December 1925
Frederick William Barton - 2 Years to December 1925
Dr. Charles Norman Simpson - 2 Years to December 1925
John 'Jock Murray - 2 Years to December 1925

In 1925, the Port Arthur Council voted that all Aldermen would be elected to one-year terms, beginning in January of 1926. Those Aldermen elected in 1925 were allowed to remain on Council for the remainder of their two-year terms, without needing to be re-elected.

1926 - Mayor Milton Francis

Members of Council: