After 46 years as mayor of Milton, Ont., Gord Krantz’s record-setting run as Canada’s longest-serving mayor has come to an end.
The 89-year-old was defeated in Monday’s municipal election, marking the first time since 1980 that Milton will have a new mayor. As he prepares to leave office, Krantz is reflecting on more than six decades in municipal politics and the transformation of the community he has called home throughout his career.
“I suspect it will probably, for a short while, tug away at the heartstrings,” Krantz told CTV News.
Krantz was seeking his 15th consecutive term as mayor. Before taking the top job in 1980, he spent 15 years as a town councillor, bringing his total time in municipal politics to 61 years.
During that time, Milton grew substantially, welcoming tens of thousands of new residents and adding homes, schools and public facilities. Krantz has been a constant presence through much of that growth, helping shape the town over half a century.
One of his proudest accomplishments was bringing post-secondary education to Milton.
Reflecting on a milestone
Krantz said Wilfrid Laurier University initially showed interest in establishing a presence in the community before Conestoga College also pursued opportunities there. Both institutions now have satellite campuses in Milton, something he believes will benefit the town for years to come.
“A well-educated community is a very prosperous community,” he said.
Krantz’s place in Canadian municipal history was cemented when he surpassed his late friend Hazel McCallion, the longtime mayor of Mississauga, as the country’s longest-serving mayor.
Reflecting on the milestone, Krantz said he was proud to carry on McCallion’s legacy.
“I’ve been wearing her crown for quite some time, so hopefully I’m wearing her crown proudly,” he said.
Despite his lengthy tenure and experience guiding Milton through decades of change, Krantz believes his age may have played a role in voters’ decision to choose a new mayor.
Looking at an older campaign poster featuring himself with darker hair, Krantz joked about the toll a life in politics can take.
“Look what politics will do to you. It will turn you grey,” he said.
He also acknowledged that some voters may have been thinking about who would lead the town in the years ahead.
“People are saying, ‘Well Gord is doing a good job now, but what about in a year or two or three?’” he said.
‘He will always be loved’
His defeat marks a significant change for Milton, where Krantz’s long tenure made him a familiar fixture in local politics. Even his successor acknowledged the challenge for anyone who previously ran against the longtime mayor.
“If you were running against Gord, it was kind of hopeless, right? That’s the way it was always perceived,” said mayor-elect George Minakakis.
Minakakis said Krantz deserves recognition for his decades of service and the connection he built with the community.
“This man deserves a lot of respect. You know, 60-plus years of service in this community, he will always be loved by this community, always be respected,” he said.
Krantz said he believes one of the keys to his success was making an effort to connect with residents personally. He tried to remember people, make time for conversations and ensure constituents felt recognized.
That personal touch left an impression on residents of all ages, including CTV News reporter Spencer Turcotte, who grew up in Milton. During an interview, Turcotte recalled meeting Krantz more than 20 years ago at a local restaurant, where he had gone with his family to collect autographs from hockey greats Johnny Bower and Walter Gretzky.
Instead, he returned with Krantz’s autograph, impressed by the mayor’s distinctive jacket covered in pins.
Krantz remembered the encounter, recalling that it happened at The Grand Chalet around Christmas.
As he prepares to leave office, Krantz will not have to look far to see the place where he spent so much of his life working. Town hall is just steps from his home and visible from his living room.
“The town hall is in my front yard,” he said.
After decades of making big decisions for Milton, Krantz acknowledged that this time, its residents made a big decision for him.
“The citizens said, ‘Gord, maybe you’ve done a good job. We want you to retire.’ So they retired me, instead of me retiring myself,” he said.
Krantz says residents will still see him around because while he may be handing over the mayor’s chair, he insists he is nowhere near ready for a rocking chair.
