Midland Deputy Mayor Jack Contin passed away this morning at the age of 70 at Georgian Bay General Hospital.
Contin was elected to the role in 2022, and served on Simcoe County council on behalf of the town. He also served Midland as a town councillor and public servant for more than 25 years prior to being elected in the current council term.
“It was sudden and unexpected,” said Mayor Bill Gordon. “He was full of life, and actually had some really good one-liners and zingers (at last night’s council meeting).”
With deep sadness, Gordon shared how Contin was a “kind, gentle, and soft-spoken” man.
“You couldn’t find a nicer guy. Absolutely genuine and authentic. He was my wingman, and he’s left a void that won’t be easily filled.”
Gordon said that Contin was as gentle and thoughtful in life as he was during council meetings.
“He was an author, if you can believe it. He was working on a book that was almost ready to publish about his survival as a Sixties Scoop child.”
Contin was a founding member of the regional UNESCO biosphere reserve program, established in 2004, and had been the representative liaison for First Nations and Métis collaboration in recent years.
During his election bid, Contin said "a cleaner Georgian Bay" was the legacy he wanted to be remembered for by Midland residents.
“At the heart of our community is the Bay, from fishing, tourism, boating and recreation, the heart of our community is the Bay. If I can take steps to protect it, and make it even just a little cleaner and better preserved for the next generation, that would be a good legacy,” said Contin in 2022.
Flags at Midland town hall have been lowered in Contin’s honour.
