City's first female mayor, Eleanor Joan ‘Dusty’ Miller, honoured during service

Dusty Miller will be remembered for her wit, humour, style and courage.

“She left a considerable legacy,” said Coun. Ken Boshcoff, who spoke at a celebration of life for the former mayor Friday afternoon at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.

Eleanor Joan (Dusty) Miller was Thunder Bay’s first female mayor; she died Feb. 14 at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre following an extended illness. She was 82 years old.

Miller made Thunder Bay history in 1978 when she defeated Walter Assef to win the city’s top elected position, a role she’d fill until 1980. She also served on city council from 1974 to 1978 and from 1985 to 1991.

Boshcoff listed the Auditorium, the Canada Games, the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway and making the city more accessible for people with disabilities as some of Miller’s top accomplishments in her political career.

“Mayor Miller was a significant player in our community. She also taught people if you don’t like what she’s doing at least you knew she was doing it for her community,” he said, adding he was glad to learn from her as a rookie councillor.

He added Miller came into the mayor’s seat at a time when Thunder Bay was still young and trying to bring Port Arthur and Fort William together as one city.

“Under Dusty Miller you can say that’s when Thunder Bay started to become its own city,” he said.

When Lynn Peterson was first elected as mayor in 2003, she had the chance to chat with Miller about what the job was like and what she could expect as the city’s top official.

“Every woman that takes a role in leadership moves the rest of us forward, not only in terms of females, but in terms of the entire community regardless of gender,” she said.

Peterson added it was clear that Miller’s passion was for the arts, which isn’t only shown through the Auditorium, but with Magnus Theatre and an arts policy for the community.

“We all benefit from this and everything else that she did,” Peterson said.

Charles Johnston first met and worked with Miller on city council, but she also became a good friend.

“I just remember a very special lady that sort of commanded your presence whenever you were in the room with her and made you feel special just by talking to you,” he said.