Condolences poured in from the highest level in Ontario on the passing away of Marie Hubbard, the first female Mayor of Newcastle. She was mayor from 1989-1992.
“I’m saddened by the passing of my friend and dedicated public servant Marie Hubbard,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford, in a tweet.
“Marie spent many years improving communities through her service at the municipal and provincial levels. My deepest condolences to her family and friends. She’ll be very missed”.
A tweet from the East Division of Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) expressed sincere condolences to the family and friends of Marie Hubbard. “Her career is admirable and extensive, and she will be greatly missed”.
Clarington pays tribute
Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster paid tribute to Marie Hubbard, who, he said, was a key figure who helped shape the community we now call the Municipality of Clarington.
“Today, flags across Clarington are at half mast as we remember a woman who I consider to be the pillar of our community. Former Town of Newcastle Mayor and Councillor Marie Hubbard died today,” Foster said in a statement yesterday.
Marie worked tirelessly for Clarington, a community she loved and helped to build. She spent many years working on council, guiding change as the Town of Newcastle grew to the municipality we know today. During her first election campaign, Marie ran on the principles of “experience, integrity, sound judgement, genuine concern for the quality of life in our town” – she lived by those values her entire life. She was also highly engaged as a citizen, working on multiple advisory committees with a passion for making her community a better, more progressive place, said Foster.
He said even after retiring from politics, Marie was a mentor and an advisor to many of us.
‘Just a little old lady’
“I was fortunate enough to be able to call upon Marie for her sage advice, leaning on her years of experience leading this community. When asked for her advice, she would often respond, ‘I am just a little old lady who doesn’t know anything.’ This, of course, was a gross understatement as she was one of the smartest people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing”.
Marie was immensely respected by her colleagues and Clarington staff, who were fortunate enough to know and learn from her. Marie was known and respected beyond Clarington. After retiring from politics, she used her immense experience helping communities with land planning issues as Chair of the Ontario Municipal Board, later the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. Her contributions to our community are immeasurable. We remain forever in her debt and will miss her immensely.
“On behalf of the Municipality of Clarington and Council, I want to extend my deepest condolences to Marie Hubbard’s family and friends,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster.
- Marie Hubbard was first elected as a local councillor in the Town of Newcastle in 1980 until 1982.
- She served as a regional councillor from 1982 to 1992
- She was the Mayor of Newcastle from 1988 to 1992
- She also served on various committees helping shape the community
- In 1975, she was appointed as Chairperson of the newly formed Visual Arts Advisory Committee, formed to support the arts in the Town of Newcastle and garner public support for the Visual Arts Centre
- In 1979, she was appointed to the Museum Board as a citizen member
- As mayor, she served on the Senior Citizens Steering Committee, as Clarington’s representative on various Conservation Authorities
- She was the Chairman of the Hydro Liaison Committee in 1987
- After retiring from politics, Marie Hubbard was appointed to the Ontario Municipal Tribunal (OMB) in 1997
- Six years later, in 2003, Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant appointed Marie Hubbard as the interim chair of the OMB. When the OMB transitioned to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal in 2019, Marie Hubbard became the interim associate Chairperson.
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