Municipal Councillor Cal Southall remembered

Tim Brody - Editor

Municipal Councillor Calvin Southall is being remembered for his dedication to the community. Southall, 67, passed away on Sept. 18, of complications from his cancer treatments in ICU, at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Centre.
At that evening’s September Regular Council Meeting, Sioux Lookout Mayor Doug Lawrance informed his fellow councillors that Southall had passed away that afternoon with his family by his side.
Before calling the meeting to order, Lawrance asked for those present to observe a moment of silence.
Flags at the Town Office were lowered to half-mast for approximately a week in Southall’s honour.
Lawrance shared, “From my perspective as Mayor, ‘Councillor Southall’ was very valued at the Council Table. Words that come to my mind to describe Cal at Council meetings include: intelligent, quick, astute, well-prepared, down to earth, and community minded. Attributes that make for a very good Councillor. He will be missed.”
First elected to serve on Municipal Council in Sioux Lookout in 2010, Southall was re-elected in 2014, and was serving his third term on council.
Lawrance further commented, “As well as his regular duties as Councillor, Cal served on various Boards, Commissions and Committees over his terms:
Economic Development Commission
Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee
Northwestern Health Unit Board of Health
Sioux Lookout Hydro Inc. Board of Directors
“A few things that Cal would be most proud of from his time on Council included his efforts to keep tax increases to a minimum or to annual consumer price index. In his role on the Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee Cal was integral in the development of ‘Northern Pride: People, Place and Purpose – Sioux Lookout’s Cultural Plan’, and as Councillor Southall, Cal signed the introductory message. Cal was instrumental in the relocation of the Museum to the Heritage Railway Station. Cal was active on the Economic Development Commission throughout his terms on Council and was involved in various economic development initiatives, especially those around streamlining the development approvals process.”
A funeral service for Southall, a husband, father, and grandfather, was held on Sept. 24 at the Recreation Centre.
Municipal Clerk Brian P. MacKinnon informed Council has two options to fill the vacancy at the Council Table, as prescribed under The Municipal Act, 2001, as amended.
“At the October Regular Council Meeting, Council will pass a resolution to deem Councillor Southall’s seat “vacant” (i.e., this is the language the Act uses/requires). Council will also determine at that time how it wishes to fill the vacancy – the Act provides two options: appoint someone (the appointee would have to agree to serve and would have to be eligible, per the requirements of the Municipal Elections Act); or direct the Clerk to hold a By-election.”