Thunder Bay has lost its first female mayor.
Eleanor Joan (Dusty) Miller died Tuesday at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre following an extended illness.
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, when Assef got his revenge and took back the seat. Assef also defeated Miller in the 1982 municipal election.
She also served on city council from 1974 to 1978 and from 1985 to 1991.
Former mayor and current Coun. Ken Boshcoff has fond memories of his former council colleague.
"Dusty became mayor the same night I was first elected so I learned quickly that what was best for the city was not always the popular route. Dusty was highly-principled and courageous to the point that it cost her the mayoralty after only one term," Boshcoff said Tuesday night.
"She certainly not afraid of the naysayers because her vision for our city guided her. Just look at the Auditorium which we all love now, but was a bloodbath to get through-but she was fearless leading the charge."
According to her biography on the City of Thunder Bay website, Miller taught in southern Ontario and lived in England before moving to the Lakehead in 1954.
She was a regular director for the Port Arthur Community Players and a driving force behind Theatre Northwest in its earliest days, paving the way for the arrival of Magnus Theatre.
She was also a founding member of Theatre Ontario.
Miller returned to school in the late 1960s, studying at Lakehead University where she won a chancellor’s medal for achieving the highest standing by a part-time student. She then moved on to teach the performing arts management program at Confederation College.
First elected to council in 1974, Miller ran because she felt the city had little or no expertise in arts and culture.
She became the first chair of the city’s arts and heritage committee, and also worked on committees benefiting family and children’s services, non-profit housing and architectural conservation.
Miller was one of the people behind the creation of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, and was mayor during the planning for the 1981 Canada Games and the facilities that came with hosting the events.
Miller, who married Lakehead University professor Tom Miller, was also a member of the Order of Ontario.
A book of condolences has been placed at city hall for members of the public to sign. Flags at city hall and all other municipal facilities will fly at half staff until after her funeral, for which arrangements are still pending.
