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Series 1 - Council Minutes
Part of City of Fort William fonds
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1892-1969 (Creation)
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- City of Fort William (Ont.)
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Administrative history
During the years immediately following Confederation, the Ontario government began to take steps to assert control over the northwestern portion of the province. This assertion of control included the surveying of several new townships on the north shore of Lake Superior.
In 1873, the Corporation of the Municipality of Shuniah was established. (Ont. Stat., Capt. 50, 36 Vic.) Shuniah, which consisted of Thunder Cape and Prince Arthur’s Landing along with the townships of McGregor, Crooks, McTavish, McIntyre, Paipoonge and Neebing (including Fort William), was the first incorporate municipality in northwestern Ontario. In response to a petition submitted by various residents of Shuniah, the legislature passed an act in March of 1881 (Ont. Stat., Cap 43, 44 Vic) which provided for the withdrawal of various portions of the muncipality, i.e. the geographic townships of Blake, Crooks, Pardee, Paipoonge, Neebing, McKellar, along with Sundry islands, in order to establish the Municipality of Neebing. With the growth of population and development of manufacturing and shipping, a portion of the Municipality of Neebing was withdrawn in order to incorporate the Town of Fort William in 1892. (Ont. Stat., Capt. 70, 55 Vic.)
As a result of substantial commercial growth, coupled with an increase in population during the early years of the twentieth century, the inhabitants of Fort William petitioned the Ontario legislature for incorporation as a city. Consequently in 1907, the Ontario government passed legislation which elevated Fort William (Ont. Stat.., Capt. 66, 7 Edward. VII) to city status. In 1969, the Ontario legislature passed an Act to Incorporate the City of the Lakehead (Ont. Stat. , Capt. 56) which provided for the amalgamation of Fort William into the new Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay. When this Act took effect on Jan. 1, 1970, Fort William ceased to exist as a separate entity.
Custodial history
Minutes for Fort William Council meetings begin on August 18, 1892, after the municipality was incorporated as a Town under authority of an Ontario Statute (Chap 70, Vict. 55) which received assent on April 14th, 1892. The nine-member council consisted of a mayor and two councilors for each of the four wards. Under the Municipal Act, a Council serves as the custodian of powers and property of the
Municipality and must act in the public interest. As a legislative body, Council retains the right to enact, repeal and amend by-laws within the municipal territory it serves. As an administrative body, Council may manage or appoint sub-committees in order to manage areas within the Municipal Corporation. As a result, Council Minutes reflect various issues regarding civic administration and finance, public property and services, the development and growth of the community as well as any requirement for municipal laws.
On April 20th, 1907, an Act to incorporate the City of Fort William received assent in the Provincial legislature. All existing by-laws for the Town were to remain in effect, all properties were to become assets of the new City, and councilors were to retain their seats until the next election. Under By-law 709 (1909) the procedures and rules of order were established for the City Council. In addition to providing various rules of conduct, the procedural by-law indicated the nature and order of business addressed at Council meetings. Accordingly, minutes reflect the receipt of original communications, the handling and referral of petitions to special committees as appropriate, the presentation of special delegations, the receipt and discussion of special committee reports, the introduction and consideration of By-laws and the passing of motions. This procedural By-law also listed the special standing committees of the Council
and their respective duties. The following committees were identified: Finance; Works; Public Utilities; Fire, Water and Light Committee; License Police and Relief Committee; and the Property Committee. Amendments to this procedural By-law were made under By-laws 3685, 4731, 5-1958, and 124-1964.
Minutes for the first meeting of each year generally document council appointments to various standing committees, and affiliated boards and may also include the Mayor’s Inaugural Address which may assist in determining the issues and objectives for the year. The maintenance of records of the proceedings of Council was the responsibility of the Municipal Clerk. Minutes for the City of Fort William conclude with the formal amalgamation with the City of Port Arthur in 1970.
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Indexes are available for the period of 1901-1969.
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- City of Fort William (Ont.) (Creator)