A Lifetime of Service: Celebrating Gary Burroughs at 80

Gary Burroughs, with daughters Josie and Alex, and his wife Sarah, at the NOTL Community Centre. File Photo

In Niagara-on-the-Lake, where history is cherished and community spirit runs deep, one name stands out for an unparalleled commitment to public service: Gary Burroughs. As he celebrates his 80th birthday in this small community where he has contributed so much and for which he has shown such commitment and passion, his milestone birthday is an opportunity to commemorate a remarkable political career that has spanned more than three and a half decades and shaped the very fabric of our town and region.

There seemed to be some confusion about the date of his birthday on social media. Was it Dec. 8 or Dec. 10? But the man himself confirmed it was yesterday, which followed a weekend of being feted by his family —his wife Sarah, daughter Alex, who was visiting with one of four grandchildren from her Calgary home, and daughter Josie, who lives in Oakville.

He says while the weekend celebrations were all “fabulous, spectacular,” what is most important to him is having his family around him, and being able to spend time with the people he loves. They spent one of the evenings just watching movies together. “I just feel so fortunate to be able to do that,” he said. “That is what matters most to me.”

And then, back to real life — he was spending Tuesday at St. Mark’s Church working on the books, as he has also done for decades, even though he no longer attends the church.

Gary’s dedication to NOTL began long before his first election. He and his wife, Sarah, raised two daughters in the community. Their family roots run deep, anchored by the Oban Inn, which Gary operated for 30 years, taking over the family business from his parents. His background as a chartered accountant and business owner gave him a foundational, pragmatic understanding of local budgets and the delicate balance between the vital tourism economy and the needs of residents.

Gary’s political journey began quietly in 1989, when he first took a seat on town council.

He took a break from politics after his term ended in 1991, he told The Local, because he was still a business owner and running the Oban Inn. He had realized during his term on council how different the needs of residents and businesses were even then, and the difficulty of balancing those needs as a politician.

This was followed by his defining tenure as Lord Mayor from 2000 to 2010, during which he simultaneously advocated for the town on regional council.

His leadership then expanded to the largest stage in Niagara. From 2010 to 2014, Gary served as the regional chair of Niagara. Beyond his demanding elected roles, his commitment to the region’s pillars was evident in his service as chair of the Niagara Parks Commission and the Shaw Festival boards, and on the board of Ridley College.

Even after guiding the entire region, his heart remained tethered to his home. Following a second term back at the region as NOTL’s representative from 2014 to 2018, he told The Local he decided he could do the most good in town at the NOTL council table, and returned to where it all began. He has served on town council since 2018, being re-elected in 2022.

That makes him not only the longest-serving local politician, but one who knows the history of the town, its issues, politics and people. He says it’s good to have a mix on council, to have new ideas, but also experience, and that can be seen at every council and committee meeting he attends — he brings an invaluable knowledge of the history of this town to the table.

As a chartered accountant, he’s always had an interest in town budgets, and as an owner-operator of the Oban Inn for three decades, which he took over from his parents, he has an understanding of what Old Town businesses face, and the importance of maintaining that balance between tourism and residents.

In his current role, he has actively focused on issues he said were most important to him during his election campaign, including heritage preservation, and is a champion of protecting streetscapes and limiting growth in historic areas.

He has been an advocate for conceptual zoning to preserve streetscapes, he says, which includes a concern about Queen Street. “My vision of Queen Street is to keep it the same, do more with what we have, but not to expand it like other commercial tourist towns in the province,” he said when he was running for the last election.

To serve for decades requires not only dedication but immense resilience, particularly in a community like Niagara-on-the-Lake, where public engagement is vast, and opinions are fiercely held and shared. There is also the constant requirement of making development decisions in a town where the love of heritage and the importance of preserving it run deep. Maintaining balance through spirited debates and the pressure of public office in such a community is no easy task.

Throughout his political career, Gary has met this challenge with dedication, durability, and a memorable personal style. He was — and remains — a famously natty dresser, always appearing in a jacket, tie, and dress pants. This commitment to appearance makes the story of him agreeing to enter the dunk tank at the St. Davids Carnival, fully dressed in his formal attire, a perfect illustration of his good-natured community spirit — I wish I had access to that photo to share it.

Of course, serving in a public role for so long also guarantees moments of unvarnished humanity. His colleagues and the public could sometimes be treated to an unfiltered or candid comment picked up by a live microphone during council sessions, often to the delight of those who heard them. These slips only underscore the genuine and human element of a man who, above all, understands and is passionate about his community.

Throughout this term, he has been seen as a little prickly in his comments at the council table. He is clear that he is not happy about what is happening in town. He says he tries to remain respectful, but he won’t back down — that’s not who he is. He says what he thinks, and, he tells The Local, has no plans to stop.

“Change will happen,” he says, “and I can’t stop it. But I will continue to bring it to the attention of the public.”

There is an election coming up in the fall, and it’s hard to say what Premier Doug Ford’s plans might be — there may not be a municipal or even regional government left, or it could be “status quo,” Gary says. But if there is an election and he has the opportunity, after a career that spans four decades serving in nearly every municipal capacity, an extraordinary accomplishment, he is certain that he will run again. “I love this town too much to stop.”

As Gary Burroughs celebrates his 80th birthday, he should be honoured and recognized not just for the milestone, but for the resilience, the passion, and the unforgettable personality he continues to bring to every role.

Happy 80th birthday, Gary! Thank you for a lifetime of dedication to Niagara-on-the-Lake and the entire Niagara Region.