Former Mayor Passes Away

By Robert Thomas

A former mayor of Moose Jaw and Moose Jaw Police superintendent Stan Montgomery passed away yesterday - January 19th.

Montgomery served as a police officer for the Moose Jaw Police from 1954 - 1988 working his way up the ladder before retiring as a superintendent.

He would defeat incumbent Mayor Herb Taylor in 1989 and serve as Mayor from 1989 - 1991.

“Stan was a pillar of our community, a person who represented what was good about our city and our people,” Mayor Clive Tolley said in a statement.

Mayor Stan Montgomery - photo courtesy City of Moose Jaw

“I was fortunate to serve as a City Councillor when Stan was our mayor and I know how much he cared for Moose Jaw. As a policeman he was firm while empathetic, as a dedicated volunteer coach he positively impacted the lives of our children, and he was a true family man. Stan leaves a legacy of family, friends, and accomplishments, and he will always be remembered as a true Moose Javian,” Mayor Tolley said.

Former Mayor and Councillor Don Mitchell expressed his condolences to the passing of Mayor Montgomery - the man he would defeat in 1991 municipal election.

“I am sorry to hear he is gone,” Mitchell said.

“I knew him off and on over the years, obviously when we served on Council (together),” he said, adding “we had our agreements and disagreements but I have forgotten them a long time ago.”

Despite their past political differences Mitchell said that was part of democracy and Mayor Montgomery did and gave his best not just as mayor but elsewhere in the community.

The former mayor said Mayor Montgomery, a first term mayor, also presided over a Council where seven of ten members were all new so there was a learning curve which Montgomery had to preside over while at the same time making Moose Jaw a better place not just at Council but the community as well.

“But to put it into perspective I have a lot of respect for his other community contributions especially in curling and baseball.”

“He made a contribution in that and other roles in Moose Jaw and I respect him for what he has done (for Moose Jaw),” the former mayor said.

“He was a community contributor on so many levels.”

Former Mayor Mitchell spoke about how important family and extended family were for Mayor Montgomery.

“For him loyalty and support for his extended family was important so I offer my condolences for their loss,” he said.

In honour to Mayor Montgomery the flags at city hall will be flown at half mast.

Editor's Note - Mayor Montgomery was the first Moose Jaw mayor the story's author wrote about as a cub reporter for the paper. MJ Independent offers condolences to his family and many friends.