Marc Grant, a councillor who served the Town of Oakville for more than two decades, has died.
“A dear friend died yesterday, and the world has lost one of the kindest, funniest and most loyal people you could ever know,” said Coun. Jeff Knoll of Oakville’s Ward 5 in a post to Facebook, with numerous comments from residents sharing their memories of Grant.
Grant died Monday due to a sudden illness.
He was elected to office in 2003, serving as Ward 5 Town Councillor for 23 years.
In a statement, Mayor Rob Burton described the former councillor as someone who “was a champion of transit, parks and public gathering spaces, a voice on poverty and food security.”
“We all benefitted from Marc’s service to our town.”
‘Time to say goodbye’
Knoll, who served with Grant as the town’s Ward 5 team, described Grant as his “best friend who was genuinely hilarious.”
“His perfectly timed quips and sidebar comments could make me laugh in almost any circumstance.”
Prior to serving on council, Grant first came to the Town of Oakville in 1995. He previously worked at CBC as a communications specialist and as a political strategist for multiple politicians, according to Grant’s bio on the town’s website.
“We sat beside one another around the council table for 23 years. We always had each other’s backs, and we always had the backs of the residents we were honoured to serve,” said Knoll, who encouraged Grant to go into politics after mounting a “spirited defence of his community” in opposition to a local street light.
Knoll called their years serving council together as “an adventure.”
“No matter how serious, difficult or stressful the situation, we always left laughing,” Knoll wrote.
According to the Town of Oakville’s official website, flags at all Oakville facilities will be flown at half-mast until Grant’s memorial service.
“Marc, our meeting has adjourned. The final credits have rolled, and it is time to say goodbye,” said Knoll.
“Rest in peace, my friend.”
