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Administrative Reports
CA ON00372 219 · Series · 1970-1999
Part of City of Thunder Bay fonds

Series consists of reports prepared by various departments of The City of Thunder Bay relating to assessments of current practices and systems and recommendations for improvement which are brought forward to Council for consideration. Reports cover a range of topics and issues including contracts, agreements, by-laws, property acquisition and the sale of property, city infrastructure and development, transportation, parking, services and programs, civic organization, council and committee structure and the development and maintenance of parks and recreation facilities in The City of Thunder Bay. Reports feature attached resolutions detailing council’s recommendations in relation to the issues raised in each report.

Administrative Reports are maintained by the Office of the City Clerk. The Office of the City Clerk oversees all departments of the municipal government and the operations of City Council. The main responsibilities held by the Office of the City Clerk include: presenting proposed by-laws to Council; preparing agendas for Council and providing secretarial services for Council and Committees of Council.

Aerial Photographs
CA ON00372 92 · Series · 1949-1996
Part of City of Thunder Bay fonds

Series consists of aerial photographs of the City of Thunder Bay. Included are aerial views of the former City of Fort William from 1949, 1955, 1959, 1962, 1968 and 1969; aerial views of the former City of Port Arthur from 1959 and 1969; and aerial views of the amalgamated City of Thunder Bay from 1974, 1976, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1991 and 1996. Also included in this series are aerial photographs of the Port Arthur urban renewal area from 1968.

As Built Consultant Drawings
CA ON00372 361 · Series · 1972-1998
Part of City of Thunder Bay fonds

Primarily folded construction drawings relating to sewers, sidewalks, parking lots, traffic lights, etc. and some letters from the Telephone Department, Thunder Bay Hydro and Centra Gas.

Assessment Rolls
CA ON00372 40 · Series · 1970-2010
Part of City of Thunder Bay fonds

The Office of the City Clerk reports to the City Manager and is responsible for maintaining all
legislative and administrative requirements necessary for the effective functioning of the City.
The primary responsibilities of the Office of the City Clerk include managing the registration
of vital statistics information, preparing agendas for City Council and providing advice to
Council regarding the policies and operations followed by the City. Another major
responsibility of the Office of the City Clerk is to oversee the assessment of property tax.
Assessment Rolls are compiled each year by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
(MPAC), the provincial government body responsible for the assessment of property value for
properties in all municipalities across Ontario. The City Clerk directs the certification and
amendment of Assessment Rolls prepared by MPAC each year within the City of Thunder
Bay. The information recorded in the Assessment Rolls is used by the City to calculate
municipal property taxes.

Series consists of Assessments Rolls covering residential, commercial and government owned
properties. Assessment Rolls include the following information: parcel number, name and
mailing address, religion, location and description of the property being assessed, school zone
including school support, tax class, total valuation, exempt distribution and taxable
distribution. Earlier Assessment Rolls from this series may include additional information
such as; marital status, occupation and year of birth. Recent Assessment Rolls also specify
whether or not there were any changes in property ownership for the years that the Assessment
Roll covers.

The Assessment Rolls are arranged by ward and subdivision. Assessment Rolls produced
between 1970 and 1979, are divided into wards for Fort William, Port Arthur, McIntyre
(Shuniah) and Neebing. Later Assessment Rolls, from 1980 onward, are divided into seven
different wards; McIntyre, Neebing, Current River, Northwood, McKellar, Red River and
Westfort.

Assessment Rolls can also be navigated by municipal address and name for the years 1976 –

  1. See Related Series: Series 41: Street Indexes to Assessment Rolls; and Series 42: Name
    Indexes to Assessment Rolls.

Also included in this series are Supplementary Assessment Rolls and Total Current Value
Rolls. Supplementary Assessment Rolls detail changes in ownership and provide information
on proportionate assessments for new property owners. Total Current Value Rolls include
statistical information on the total assessed values for properties which have been divided into
the following categories; residential (includes English and French separate school and public
school), commercial, office building, industrial, exempt, parking lot and multi-residential.

Assessment Rolls
CA ON00372 13 · Series · 1902-1969
Part of City of Fort William fonds

E. S. Rutledge was appointed in 1903 as the Collector of Rates for the Town of Fort William and retired at the end of 1905.

When established as a Town on April 14th, 1892 by the Province of Ontario, four wards were established in Fort William and their boundaries defined. Assessment rolls, currently in preparation by the township of Neebing, were to be transferred as appropriate to the new Town of Fort William for the collection of taxes. It is unknown who acted as the original assessment commissioner and tax collector for the Town of Fort William, however, J.J. Wells held the position from 1905 to 1912 and was the original Assessment Commissioner /Tax Collector for the newly incorporated City in 1907.

Under the Act Respecting Municipal Institutions 1914 (Chapter 192 Section 230) assessment commissioners could be appointed by a Council through a By-law. The records show Assessment Commissioners for the Town of Fort William as follows; J.J. Wells, 1905 to
1912 - Charles England, 1913- 1916 - R. Dagger 1931 to June 1945 (Hendersons) - Alexander Halliday appointed under By Law 3937 dated June 26th, 1945 and sworn in June 30, 1945 - 1950 Hendersons Lists J. A. Colvin as Assessment Commissioner - W. Paul Simpson appointed under By-law 4356 dated July 11th 1950 takes office August 8th - Wilbert Wray appointed under By-law 11-1957 dated February 26th, 1957.

Organized by Ward and Subdivision, details of the Assessment Rolls included the Name, Address and Occupation of the Property Owner, the street name, lot number, house number, plan number, size of the lot, The Rate, the Actual Land and Building Value, school support, number of children and whether the occupant was a tenant or an owner.

In addition to calculating property values for tax purposes, early Assessment rolls were used for election purposes to establish polling sub divisions and to determine eligibility to vote on the bases of property ownership.

Under By-law 4262 (1949) Assessment for the year was to be conducted between January and September, the assessment rolls to be returned to the City Clerk by dates specified in the bylaw. In the same year, a report prepared by Stevenson and Kellogg indicated that the Commissioner completed all assessments and that the department was overburdened, spending most of its time on the collection of taxes. It was recommended that the department be severed in order to have one assessment office and one tax office. In 1950 this division was completed and a new Assessment Commissioner was hired for the City of Fort William.

This series is virtually complete consisting of 817 bound volumes with detailed records of information for assessment purposes. Fort William Collector’s Rolls, Series 15 may substitute or be used to fill in any gaps in the Assessment Rolls.

Assessment Rolls - Industry
CA ON00372 14 · Series · 1915-1951
Part of City of Fort William fonds

This series is a record of the assessment of industrial properties in the City.

When established as a Town on April 14th, 1892 by the Province of Ontario, four wards were established in Fort William and their boundaries defined. The researcher must know the street address in order to use the assessment rolls efficiently, as well the ward would be beneficial. In addition to calculating property values for tax purposes, early assessment rolls were used for election purposes to establish polling subdivisions and to determine eligibility to vote on the basis of property ownership.

Under the Act Respecting Municipal Institutions 1914 (Chapter 192 Section 230) assessment commissioners could be appointed by a Council through a By-law. Included in each Assessment Roll is a form called “Affidavit of Assessor in Verification of Assessment Roll” that has been notarized by the commissioner and assessor. The Town of Fort William’s Assessment Commissioners were A. McNaughton from 1915 to 1944 and D. M. Martin from 1945 to 1949 and 1951. The Assessors were Charles England from 1915 to 1918, J. Richard Dagger from 1919 through 1944, A. Halliday from 1945 to 1949 and W. Paul Simpson in 1951.

Organized by Ward and Subdivision, details of the Assessment Rolls included part or all of the following; Name, Address and Occupation of the Property Owner, Owner or Tenant, the street name, lot number, house number, plan number, size of the lot, Rate, Actual Value of Land, Building Value and total of both, school support and date of delivery of notice. Each book also includes a summary of assessment and details.

A supplementary Assessment Roll for 1915, 1916, and 1917 was produced.

This series is virtually complete consisting of 37 bound volumes with detailed records of information for assessment purposes.

CA ON00372 5 · Series · 1904-1969
Part of City of Fort William fonds

A Cemetery and Parks Committee appears to have been established in the fall of 1901 as a 5-member sub-committee of Council. For the period 1904-1905, the committee was chaired by J.E. Dean. There is no indication of how park and cemetery functions were directed after 1905 as there are no references to the committee within the Fort William council minutes, and no remaining minutes for this or any related Committee until the formulation of the Parks Board in 1910.

After public consultation in the form of a plebiscite, and the adoption of By-law 735, the Board of Parks Management was created in 1910 under the authority of the Ontario Public Parks Act. The original public petition for the Board of Parks Management is available in the Fort William City Clerks files. (TBA 4 – File 131 entitled Parks Board 1910-1920)

Appointments to the Parks Board were formally established by Council on January 11 1910, with the first regular meeting of the Board of Parks Management held January 28th, 1910, chaired by W. A. Dowler.

Early ventures for the Board of Parks Management included the acquisition and control of existing park properties, boulevards, and the hiring of a landscape architect. The Parks Board undertook improvements to various park properties, scheduled use of park facilities and maintained a greenhouse. In addition to developing Chippewa Park and leasing cabins on Sandy Beach, the board assumed responsibility for the management of city cemeteries at various points after 1917. The Parks Board undertook responsibility for the formation of outdoor skating rinks in 1942, participated in the initiative to establish a skiing facility near Mount McKay in 1947 and undertook the Fort William Centennial Conservatory Project in the late 1960s.

Recreational committees began to surface as early as 1943 with an appointment of a Special Recreational Committee on March 15. Later, under the authority of By-law 4263 (1949) the Fort William Civic Recreation Committee was established to provide a program of community recreation as prescribed under the Department of Education Act. As the functions of recreation and parks committees were similar, Council passed a motion for the Board of Parks Management to assume the Civic recreation program in 1952. To avoid the requirement for a public plebiscite for the dissolution of the two boards and the creation of a new board to manage both functions, Council resolved the issue through By-law 4492, which passed and received approval from the Ontario Department of Education in 1952. This by-law allowed council to appointment members of Board of Parks to the Civic Recreation Committee. Both committees maintained separate minutes, but were in effect managed under the Board of Parks Management. Minutes (January 1966 to January 1967) for the Fort William Civic Recreation Committee are bound with the Board of Parks Management Minutes 1964-1965. Minutes for the Fort William Board of Parks Management end in 1969 due to the amalgamation of the City of Fort William and Port Arthur.

This Series Consists of meeting minutes relating to the management of Parks and Cemeteries for the City of Fort William. Eleven bound volumes exist, for which there are no indices. The first volume for the Board of Parks Management, dated January 28, 1910 to December 3, 1917, contains the originating By-law 1. Some Newspaper clippings and reports are interspersed. After 1935 the minutes reflect a growing structure for parks management. Reports from the Inside Park Committee, Chippewa Park Outside Committee, McKellar Park Committee, Finance Committee and a Tourist Committee are included for the period 1935-1936. While it appears that the first four are sub-committees to the Parks Board, the Tourist committee appears to be a committee of council with representation from the Parks Board. Frequent progress reports are included from Mr. A. Widnall, the longstanding Board Secretary and Parks Manager and reports from various Chairmen.

Also included with this series, custodial history of which is not known, is the Annual Statement for the Fort William Board of Parks Management for the year 1949. Included in this document are the statement of receipts and payments for the year, as well as the operating statement and highlights of various activities held at and improvements made to the City's parks throughout the year.

Bridge Drawings
CA ON00372 385 · Series · 1947, 1988-1994
Part of City of Thunder Bay fonds

This series includes copies of blueprints of bridges located in the City of Thunder Bay, as well as some textual material.

Building Permit Registers
CA ON00372 11 · Series · 1907-1969
Part of City of Fort William fonds

Outlined in By-law 325 (1903), the duties of the Building Inspector included the examination of construction of buildings and repairs, making the Office of the Building Inspector a likely candidate for the responsibility of the Fort William building permit registers. Through reviewing annual reports (Series 16) it appears that the office of the Building Inspector came under the direction of the Fire Water and Light Committee.

Arranged numerically by year and permit number, registers (Between 1912 and 1972) generally include the following details:
permit number, date, owner, information on the location of the building including lot, block, plan, street and address, a description of the building including construction details of walls, foundations and roof, the names of architect/contractor and plumber/electrician, the costs of the construction, any fees charged and the purpose of the permit. Monthly summaries give the
totals for different categories of construction such as duplexes, single dwellings, sheds, commercial and institutional buildings.

The earliest building permits (1907-1911) do not include details regarding the contractor, builder, plumber or electrician, but still provide a description of the purpose of building and value attached to the construction.

This series consists of bound volumes with details of construction completed under a permit number. There is no index to permit numbers, by name or property. Researchers must know the approximate year of the construction for a property in order to search, page by page, for the street address.

By-laws
CA ON00372 3 · Series · 1892-1969
Part of City of Fort William fonds

By-laws cover a great variety of issues and concerns. There are By-laws to formalize agreements with other institutions, appoint municipal officials, regulate tax collection, construct sidewalks and roadways, license local establishments, provide for holding elections, establish rates for water and other applicable utilities, and construct City facilities. While most By-laws pass after three readings by council, some early by-laws affecting the “future position” of the municipality required the electoral approval by ratepayers according to the Municipal Act. These by-laws would generally include debenture by-laws for the borrowing of funds on credit, but would also include by-laws for annexation or separation, a re-division
of wards, construction of street railways, local assessment and improvement to name a few.

Interspersed with the earliest Fort William By-laws, there are also sundry by-laws generated by the Municipality of Neebing (1890-1894).

City of Fort William (Ont.)
CA ON00372 275 · Series · 1980-1994
Part of City of Thunder Bay fonds

The Canada Games Complex, located at 420 Winnipeg Avenue, Thunder Bay, Ontario, was constructed as a venue for aquatic events for the 1981 Canada Summer Games. Construction began in 1979 and the Complex officially opened on July 2, 1981. The Canada Summer Games took place there August 9-22, 1981. The Complex was built to host swimming, diving, and water polo at the Summer Games, but ancillary facilities were also included in the interests of the long-term viability of the Complex as a total fitness and recreation centre facility within the community. Among its amenities are a waterslide, exercise equipment, a running track, weight room, facilities for racquet sports, a restaurant, and a pro shop. In addition, the Complex offers a wide range of fitness and recreation programs and courses.

Originally created as a separate department, the Canada Games Complex was eventually put under the purview of the Parks and Recreation Department. In 2006, the Canada Games Complex was under the auspices of the Recreation & Culture Division of the Community Services Department of the City of Thunder Bay.

This series contains records relating to the operation of the Canada Games Complex, including policies, procedures, planning, correspondence, marketing, program development, and involvement in community fitness initiatives

Census Reports
CA ON00372 202 · Series · 1970-1981
Part of City of Thunder Bay fonds

Census Reports were prepared on a yearly basis by the Regional Assessment Office of the Province of Ontario and delivered to the Office of the City Clerk. Census Reports were prepared using information obtained from the Assessment Rolls in order to garner an
understanding of the resident population of the municipality and were used by the Province in the calculation of resource allocations and grants. Census Reports were not intended to serve as an official population count.

The Office of the City Clerk reports to the City Manager and is responsible for maintaining all legislative and administrative requirements necessary for the effective functioning of the City. The primary responsibilities of the Office of the City Clerk includes managing the registration of vital statistics information, preparing agendas for City Council, providing advice to Council regarding the policies and operations followed by the City and overseeing the assessment of property tax.

Series consists of Census Reports prepared by the Regional Assessment Office of the Province of Ontario and includes statistical information on the population of the City of Thunder Bay. The information is divided into ward and subdivision and contains the total number of people for each age group, total number of male and female residents and the total male and female residents under the category of public school and separate school support.

CA ON00372 407 · Series · 1970-1994
Part of City of Thunder Bay fonds

These are copies of applications submitted to the Ministry of the Environment for Certificates of Approval, primarily for drinking water and sanitary sewer systems. Copies of the actual Certificates are included in some files. This series begins in 1970. Format of applications changes in 1987.

City Clerk's Files
CA ON00372 117 · Series · 1970-1997
Part of City of Thunder Bay fonds

The Office of the City Clerk oversees all departments of the municipal government and the operations of City Council. Major responsibilities of the City Clerk include; presenting proposed by-laws to Council; preparing agendas for Council; providing secretarial services for Council and Committees of Council; administering vital statistics registrations; managing municipal elections, ensuring that city government is operating in accordance with provincial statutes; licensing and regulation of City services; and overseeing property tax assessments.

Other items more recently added to the portfolio of the City Clerk include corporate records management and ensuring that the City is compliant with the provisions of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, emergency planning, heritage designation, and the Aboriginal Liaison division. The Office of the City Clerk also contains two permanent committees; the Heritage Advisory Committee and the Official Recognition Committee.

In the first years following the amalgamation of the City of Thunder Bay until 1973, the City Clerk shared responsibilities with the City Coordinator’s Office and reported directly to the City Coordinator. As of April 1980, the Office of the City Clerk was a division of a larger department, Administrative Services, headed by a Director and accountable to the Chief Administrative Officer. At this time, the City Clerk reported directly to the Director of Administrative Services. In 1989, the City Clerk reported directly to the Chief Administrative Officer. In 1996, the City Clerk’s Office was positioned under the Corporate Services department and reported to the General Manager, Corporate Services. With the dissolution of the Corporate Services department in 1998, the Office of the City Clerk became a division of the City Manager’s Office. At 2014, the City Clerk reports directly to the City Manager. City Clerk appointments for the City of Thunder Bay include: D. B. Morris (1971 - 1979); H. T. Kirk (1980 - 1994); Elaine Bahlieda (1995 - 2003); John Hannam (2004 - present).

As the Office of the City Clerk oversees all functions and responsibilities of City Government, this series consists of records relating to all aspects of government. Predominant in this series are records relating to City Council, the preparation and management of municipal elections, legal agreements and the establishment of by-laws, liaisons with other institutions and levels of government over issues of health, education, road development, planning and engineering (including zoning and urban renewal), correspondence and other records regarding vital statistics registrations, records relating to finance and taxation, the Parking Authority, police and fire services, historical preservation within the City and the management of corporate records.

Also included are records relating to the administration and organizational development of the City. Some files from the Chief Administrative Officer can also be found in this series.

Also included in this series are plans relating to highway improvements and zoning of areas within the City.

City Clerk's Files
CA ON00372 29 · Series · 1884-1969
Part of City of Port Arthur fonds

Under By-Law 1545, dated December 30, 1918, the duties of Officials were set out. The duties of the City Clerk included secretary of council, returning officer, voters list preparation, local improvements, preparation of juror’s list, registrar of vital statistics, supplies control, responsibility for fuel controller records, isolation hospital, tax roll and office. (the By-Law may be consulted for more detailed information)

The records were in the custody of a number of Clerks commencing with William Howard Langworthy who was appointed Clerk and Treasurer of the Town of Port Arthur on May 12, 1884, under By-Law 1. Mr. Langworthy was also appointed Clerk of the Police Office on January 25, 1886, under By-Law 88. On January 26, 1891, under By-Law 275 he was again appointed Clerk and the By-Law also stated that his salary as Clerk also included his salary as Secretary of the Local Board of Health.

On February 10, 1897, under By-Law 481, James McTeigue was appointed Clerk and the ByLaw also stated that his salary as Clerk also included his salary as Secretary of the Local Board of Health. On February 7, 1898, under By-Law 502 , Mr. McTeigue was appointed Clerk and Treasurer. On January 18, 1907, under By-Law 898, Mr. McTeigue’s salary as Clerk and Treasurer and Secretary of the Local Board of Health, also included his salary as Secretary Treasurer of the Electric Railway and Light Commission. Under By-Law 52, dated January 15, 1908, his title as Secretary Treasurer of the Electric Railway and Light Commission was changed to Secretary of the Electric Railway and Light Commission.

In 1908, under By-Law 113, dated April 13th, the Office of the Clerk and Treasurer was separated and William Gurney was appointed Treasurer. Mr. McTeigue continued as Clerk, Secretary of the Local Board of Health and Secretary of the Electric Railway and Light Commission. Under By-Law 500, dated January 9, 1911, the title Electric Railway and Light Commission was changed to Utilities Commission. Under By-Law 734, dated January 11, 1912, Mr. McTeigue was appointed Clerk and Secretary of the Local Board of Health.

Under By-Law 837, dated July 30, 1912, T. F. Milne was appointed Clerk. Under the ByLaw, his salary as Clerk, also included his salary as Secretary of the Local Board of Health, Secretary of the Board of Park Commissioners and Secretary of the Board of Police Commissioners. Under By-Law 960, dated January 13, 1913, Mr. Milne was again appointed Clerk, with his salary also including his services as Secretary of the Local Board of Health. No other duties were mentioned in this By-Law. Under By-Law 1142, dated January 19, 1914, Mr. Milne was again appointed Clerk. No other duties were mentioned in this By-Law.

On March 20, 1922, under By-Law 1684, Mr. Milne was appointed Clerk and Deputy Treasurer. Due to the death of T.F. Milne , Arthur H. Evans was appointed temporary Clerk and Deputy Treasurer of the City of Port Arthur under By-Law 2085, dated January 29, 1934. Under ByLaw 2100, Arthur H. Evans was appointed the permanent Clerk and Treasurer.

On September 11, 1939 under By-Law 2348, pursuant to the provisions of the Revised Statutes of Ontario, 1937, Chapter 266, Section 234, Sub-section 2 and Section 238, William V. McComber was appointed Deputy City Clerk and Deputy City Treasurer during the absence of the then Clerk and Treasurer, Arthur H. Evans who was serving in His Majesty’s Forces.

On December 11, 1939, under By-Law 2371, William V. McComber was appointed permanent Clerk and Treasurer during the indefinite absence of Arthur H. Evans, subject to the said Arthur H. Evans being able to return to his position upon his return, which provision is covered under By-Law 2349, dated September 25, 1939. On December 27, 1946 under ByLaw 2711, Arthur H. Evans was re-appointed as Clerk and Treasurer pursuant to The Reinstatement and Civil Employment Act 1946 and to By-Law 2349.

On July 28, 1947 under By-Law 2758, Arthur H. Evans was appointed Clerk and William V. McComber was appointed Treasurer and Deputy Clerk.

On July 25, 1955 under By-Law 3771, Lillian Dennis was appointed Deputy Clerk, the aforesaid Arthur Henry Evans retained his position as Clerk at this time, under By-Law 3770 also dated July 25, 1955. On May 27, 1963 under By-Law 4945 it was necessary to appoint an Acting Clerk, and Lillian Dennis was appointed. Frank Morphet was appointed Deputy Clerk under By-Law 4946, dated May 26, 1963. On November 12, 1963 under By-Law 5014, Lillian Dennis was appointed Clerk of the City of Port Arthur. Lillian Dennis remained in the position as Clerk until her retirement on January 1, 1970.

The series contains records generated in the office of the City Clerk and consists of files arranged alphabetically under the categories Education, Election, Employees, Finance, Government, Government Housing, Government Licenses/Licensing, Government Police, Government Vital Statistics, Health, Health Hospitals, Legal, Miscellaneous, Planning, Property, Property Zoning, Real Estate Transactions, Recreation, Social, Trade, Trade Elevators, Trade Railway/Railways, Traffic & Safety, Utilities, Utilities
Telephone/Telephones, Utilities Water, Works & Construction, Works & Construction Streets, Works & Construction Traffic & Safety, Works & Construction Traffic, Fire & Safety and Works & Construction Water.

City Clerk's Files
CA ON00372 4 · Series · 1903-1969
Part of City of Fort William fonds

This series contains records relative to Council and the City Clerk’s office. The First Box is strictly correspondence, alphabetically filed and dating from 1903 to 1913. Additional materials are arranged by file code and can be accessed through reviewing the file list.

Records in the Fort William City Clerk’s Files reflect some of the above mentioned legislative requirements, however, this series largely reflects local issues including correspondence relative to Council actions and the administration of the City through its various Boards. The earliest records of the of Fort William Clerks Files consist of correspondence for the Town of Fort William in the early part of the 20th century. These records are alphabetically ordered and cover the period from 1903 to 1913. Latter records are subject-based files organized by a file code. The following titles are in no way exclusive or consistently applied over the span of years for the City Clerks files. They are included here to reflect the variety and scope of issues addressed by the Clerk.

File headings include the following: Auditorium, Board of Education, Bridges, City Statistics, City Hall, Complaints, Court of Revision, Council, Court of Revision – Voters List, Elections, Fort William Gardens, General Correspondence, District Officer of Health, Health, Housing, Historical, Hydro-Electric Commission, Industry, Legislation, Local Improvements, Loch Lomond, Public Utilities, Railways, Rinks, Royal Visit, Streets, Street Railway, Tax, Tourists, Town Planning, Transit, Visitors, Vital Statistics, War and Zoning. A detailed file list is available.

In 1949 a report conducted by Stevenson and Kellogg identified the work performed in the Clerks department. In addition to duties already mentioned, the clerk oversaw City insurance matters, performed secretarial duties for Council and its committees (such as the Police Commission and Board of Health) issued marriage licenses, and was responsible for the internal coordination of work between departments as well as the coordination between departments and the committees of Council which managed the City. This last responsibility for the coordination between departments and Council was likely alleviated after the appointment of Sydney H. Blake as City Administrator in January of 1958, his duties being described in By-law 58-1961 to include the control and direction of department heads.

City of Fort William (Ont.). City Clerk
CA ON00372 128 · Series · 1860-2006
Part of City of Thunder Bay fonds

Series consists of photographs acquired by the Office of the City Clerk. Included are group photographs of City Councils for Fort William, Port Arthur and Thunder Bay from various years, photographs of children at sporting events and in school settings and portrait photographs of Aldermen, Mayors and City Clerks from various years. Also included in this series are early photographs of construction and development within the Thunder Bay region, photographs of accidents including train accidents and ship wrecks and a variety of early photographs showing the landscape of the region. Landscape photographs include images of industrial areas such as grain elevators, mills and mines in the district, Kakabeka Falls, views of the Kaministiquia River and Mount McKay, early street views of downtown Fort William and various railway bridges in the region, and photographs of the old Fort William City Hall.

City Manager's Files
CA ON00372 412 · Series · 1986-2004
Part of City of Thunder Bay fonds

Under the Municipal Act (2001), the City Manager is responsible for the overall management and control of the municipal government and the general administration and direction of all departments within the City. Reporting directly to City Council, the City Manager performs research on behalf of Council and provides advice to Council with regard to the development of business plans, programs, policies, procedures and the overall objectives of the City. The City Manager also works with City Council in the development of long term strategic plans.

Departments currently reporting directly to the City Manager include Corporate Communications and Strategic Initiatives, Human Resources and Corporate Safety, Management Studies and the Office of the City Clerk. As of September 2011, Emergency Medical Services, Internal Audit and Continuous Improvement no longer report to the City Manager. The City Solicitor and Corporate Council also report to the City Manager and City Council.

In 1975, a major review of the organizational structure of The City of Thunder Bay was performed. As a result of this review, the position of Chief Administrative Officer was created to replace the role of the City Coordinator. With the implementation of a Chief Administrative Officer, long term corporate and strategic planning became a primary function of the position. The title of City Manager replaced the title of Chief Administrative Officer.

Previous City Managers include: Bruce Thom (1994 – 1996); Brian McRae (1998 - 2002); Robert Petrie (2003 - 2007); and Tim Commisso (2008 - present).

Series consists of records of the City Manager covering a range of topics including, reports and correspondence relating to the management of departments under the City Manager’s control, records relating to the development of the Fast Forward Plan from 2000, reference material relating to the development of strategic plans, organizational charts and other records relating to planning and corporate structuring of the City, correspondence with associations and other levels of government relating to the development of regional boards addressing community issues and economic development in the area, correspondence with other
municipalities in the northwestern Ontario region regarding activities and corporate structuring.

City of Fort William fonds
Fonds · 1892-1969

The fonds consists of minutes, by-laws, agreements, correspondence, reports, financial records , maps and plans which documents virtually all aspects of municipal rights, responsibilities and activities. As a result of a disastrous fire in March of 1903, which destroyed the original Town Hall and almost all of the municipality’s early records, there is relatively little documentation covering Fort William’s first decade. The post 1903 records, however, reflect all categories of municipal functions, and responsibilities including council, administration, finance, waterworks, roads, planning, building, engineering, public transportation, parks, recreation, telephone, welfare, police and fire service.

City of Fort William (Ont.)