People in LaSalle are mourning local politician Ross Blackhurst, who died on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at the Royal Victoria Hospital. He was 72 years old.
“It is with profound emotion that I learned of Ross Blackhurst’s passing,” said LaSalle borough mayor Manon Barbe in a press release Thursday. “I am losing not only a member of my Council and a ‘fellow traveller’ for the past many years, but also a friend. When I was first elected to office back in 1995, Ross Blackhurst had already been a councillor here for eight years. I will always cherish the memory of his passionate efforts in defending the matters at hand, his perseverance and his determination—which made it possible to bring numerous projects to a successful conclusion, and his concern for being a Councillor who truly served our residents’ interests. And the residents in his district always appreciated that quality of his, electing him seven times to represent them on Council.”
Blackhurst’s funeral service takes place this morning, Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at St. John Brébeuf Parish. His wife Pierrette Auger Blackhurst, his son Patrick Blackhurst and their family were all in attendance, along with many members of the LaSalle borough council.
LaSalle council members ordered the flags in front of the Borough’s municipal buildings to be flown at half-mast until tomorrow. Residents who would like to sign a commemorative book can do so at LaSalle Borough Hall, 55 avenue Dupras, during office hours until March 28. This book will be presented to Blackhurst’s family.
A tribute is also planned during the Borough council meeting on Tuesday, April 2.
Blackhurst has served on council in LaSalle since 1987 and was appointed acting Mayor a number of times. He was a member of the urban planning advisory, traffic and the ad hoc snow committees, in addition to being responsible for sports. He also sat on the Développement économique LaSalle board. He was particularly proud of his efforts constructing, improving and maintaining various sports facilities, including the Aquadôme, the Keith-Ewenson football stadium, the synthetic turf soccer field, the Fritz-R.-Prévost athletics track and the upgrading of two arenas.
He also served as president of the board of directors for the Riverside Technology Centre and spent hours volunteering on the boards of LaSalle’s municipal housing organization as well as the friends of LaSalle Hospital. He was a retired employee of the Canadian National Railway Company.
Members of Union Montreal, the party to which Blackhurst belonged, were informed of his passing last Thursday. “Our team has lost an important colleague,” said Richard Deschamps, leader and LaSalle borough council member. “He was respectful and had integrity, generosity of spirit and a strong passion to serve. We’ll all miss him. My colleagues and LaSalle activists all join me in offering sincere condolences to Ross’s family and everyone who loved him or whom he loved. We all have very good memories of him.”
