Longest-serving Georgina, York Region Councillor Danny Wheeler dies

YorkRegion.com
Nov. 1, 2016
Lisa Queen

Tributes are pouring in for beloved Georgina and York Region Councillor Danny Wheeler, who died Tuesday. 

The town and region will fly their flags at half mast. 

"I'm very sad and very shocked to have lost him," Georgina Mayor Margaret Quirk said Tuesday night. "He was a great man and a great member of council and he's going to be missed here at local council and at the region."

"I looked up to him and I went to him for advice. He was someone whose wisdom I would use whenever I could. I can't believe he's gone and he's not going to be at our council chambers or at the region."

Wheeler had a phenomenal memory and a warm sense of humour, Quirk said.

Regional chair Wayne Emmerson also said Wheeler will be missed.

"He was a true gentleman and he did a lot for the Town of Georgina and the region of York," Emmerson said. "He knew how to speak and put everything in perspective.

"He didn't have to speak very much but when he did, everyone listened. He will be very missed at the council table at the region."

A moment of silence will be held at Thursday's regional committee meeting.

Wheeler, 69, leaves behind his wife, Fran.

He served on regional council since 1988 and was the longest-serving member in council's history. He started his political career as a Georgina ward councillor in 1982, serving two, three-year terms.

At the region, he served on many committees, chairing the police services board from 2007 to 2012. He had also chaired the accessibility advisory committee.

In 2014, he was appointed the region's representative on the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority board.

He was serving his 11th term on Georgina council, after being acclaimed in 2014.

He sat on or chaired almost every town committee during his long years of service, including the equity and diversity committee, the health care committee, the wireless broadband committee and the official plan committee.

Details of his funeral are still being finalized.