Newmarket is mourning as its longest-serving former councillor Dave Kerwin passed away at age 84 yesterday.
Town flags are flying at half mast to mark the passing of Kerwin, who spent a total of 39 years on council under six different mayors.
“As the longest-serving member of Newmarket council, Dave Kerwin had a massive impact on Newmarket,” Mayor John Taylor said in a news release. “His many years of public service are a testament to his dedication to this town, which he loved.”
Kerwin has been a part of many major projects in the town’s history. The town said he was a “driving force” behind initiatives such as the revitalization of Main Street, the renovation of the Old Town Hall, the creation of the Tom Taylor Trail, the construction of the Magna Centre and the NewRoads Performing Arts Centre, among others.
“His passion to build a better community led to many accomplishments that will be felt by generations to come,” Taylor said.
The longtime politician was also an educator, as a teacher in Germany before getting into public service. He was also involved in the province’s Stewardship Youth Ranger Program, which focused on providing youth an opportunity on natural resource management projects.
Kerwin retired from office in 2018, deciding not to run. But his decades of service earned him several accolades. The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority gave him the George R. Richardson Award of Honour for his lifetime of work. The town also paid tribute by naming the Dave Kerwin Trail after him in 2010.
Newmarket-Aurora MP Tony Van Bynen, who worked with Kerwin for years while he also on town council, offered his condolences and said he will miss Kerwin.
"Dave was a genuine community builder, deeply focused on his community," Van Bynen said. "His smile and his genuine concern for the people who came into his life will be memories to cherish. Our town benefited from his passion and his commitment to everything that was Newmarket. I valued his honesty, and his drive to make Newmarket a great place to live."
The town offered its condolences to friends, colleagues and family of Kerwin. It said municipal flags will remain at half-mast until Kerwin’s funeral, which has not yet been announced.
“Dave was endlessly curious, always seeking to learn more about the people he served, the issues they championed, and how he could make this town better,” Taylor said. “He was always happy, always smiling, and quick to laugh, seeing the joy in all that life offered.”
