Former Guelph Mayor and longtime city counsellor Joe Young has died.
Mr. Young, who served as Mayor of Guelph from 1994 to 2000, passed away early Friday. He was 92.
Current Mayor Cam Guthrie said Mr. Young was a friend and mentor who truly loved Guelph.
"Our city is better because of him," Guthrie said Sunday night.
He said he often visited with Mr. Young at his home, with the former Mayor offering friendly advice on city issues.
"When I entered his home I would be greeted by many newspaper clippings on city issues, all cut out and neatly stacked on his dining room table - he was ready to go through each one with me offering his advice and encouragement," Guthrie said.
"Joe was a great leader for our city and one of the accomplishments under his term that comes to my mind was the building of the River Run Centre. I remember him telling me that although he had had some doubts on the project at the time, that as Mayor he got behind the project with council support and it is now a beautiful centre for our arts and culture that would be terribly missed by many if not built when it was."
Ward 4 councillor Christine Billings served on council with Young.
"Joe was the first Mayor with whom I served as councillor. He taught me so much about municipal politics and I will always have fond memories of Joe," said Billings.
"He was very passionate about the City of Guelph and cared deeply for its citizens. Guelph was well served by Mayor Young and he will be missed by many."
Councillor Cathy Downer served on council for six years with Mr. Young when he was Mayor.
"He seemed to really want to understand different perspectives even if we disagreed," Downer said.
"I think he saw himself as a champion of the 'little guy' and would help people even if it wasn't a City Hall issue - never afraid to say what was on his mind. He was always very accessible and would host regular 'brown bag lunches' where anyone could come and speak to him on matters that concerned them. Joe was a traditional and well regarded Mayor," Downer said
Born in Toronto, Mr. Young’s family moved to Guelph when he was a young boy and he attended Guelph CVI high school.
During World War II he served in the Royal Canadian Navy as a gunner, escorting merchant marine ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
He later attended the University of Toronto, worked in Montreal upon graduation where he met his wife Audrey before returning to Guelph, where he founded Marblelike Products Ltd.
He became involved with Conestoga College, serving as Dean of Conestoga’s Guelph campus until his retirement.
Mr. Young served on Guelph City Council as an alderman or councillor from 1982 to 1994 and from 2000 to 2003.
Mr. Young’s wife of 67 years Audrey passed away earlier this year.
He is survived by five children, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Burial service will be held at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery in the Beth Isaiah section on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Shiva takes place at 64 Metcalfe St. on Thursday and Friday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day.
