It was a heartfelt start to today’s Quinte West Council meeting.
Councillor Sally Freeman, who passed away two weeks ago, was honoured by Mayor Harrison and her fellow Council members.
Councillor Freeman cared deeply for her family and community. During her service on Quinte West Council, she was a dedicated and passionate advocate for improving public healthcare access and enhancing public safety for all.
Each Council member delivered a loving and emotional message to Councillor Freeman, before placing a flower in a vase at her spot around the horseshoe, with her family in the audience.
More than half of the Council members wore red in honour of Councillor Freeman.
Mayor Harrison kicked off the remarks.
“I have had the privilege of working alongside Councillor Sally Freeman for throughout both of our political careers. Sally was a dedicated public servant whose committment to the Quinte West community and its residents was truly inspiring. Her passion for improving our city’s emergency response capabilities was unmatched. She played a key role in the development of Quinte West Fire Rescue Headquarters and Station 1, a project that stands today as a lasting testament to her leadership and vision. Sally’s legacy of service, compassion, and committment will be remembered and cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing her. On behalf of Council, City Staff, and the residents of Quinte West, I extend sincere and our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones. She will be deeply missed, but her impact on the community will never be forgotten.”
Following a biography of Councillor Freeman read by the CAO, Councillor Kuntze was next to speak.
“Our city and I are going to miss your fire, Sally, especially when it came to helping people and making Quinte West a better place.”
Next to speak was Councillor Armstrong.
“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family, thank you for being here. When one looks back upon the history of Quinte West, the various Councillors who have served our community, and continue to serve, the one name that stands out amongst the many is the name Sally Freeman. What stands out most about this great City Councillor is that she was a pillar, a person who helped pave a path and build upon the foundation for other women to join her and others on City Council. I’m sure Councillors Karen Sharpe, Lynda Reid, Shelley Stedall, and others will attest to this observation. Sally battled an unforgiving illness for the past number of years, but because of her intestinal fortitude, courage, and love for this community, Sally stared it straight in the face and went the extra innings to complete her mission. We will all miss Sally, yet her presence is not only being felt tonight, but will be honoured and respected for generations to come. Rest in peace.”
Following was Councillor Stedall.
“It is an honour to say a few words about Councillor Sally Freeman. She was a remarkable woman and a true trailblazer. Sally served on the very first Quinte West Council and dedicated 30 years to public service at a time when there were very few women in municipal leadership. She was a strong, steady voice, one who spoke with conviction, compassion, and an unwavering committment to her community. On a personal note, Sally gave me a strong sound advice that I continue to carry with me. Her wisdom guided so many of us and though she may be gone, I can still hear her voice encouraging me to stay the course and to keep serving the people of our community with integrity and heart. Sally will be deeply missed, but her legacy of leadership and strength to live on is with us all and it was a privilege to serve alongside her.”
Next to speak was Councillor Reid.
“I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Sally’s daughter, Jennifer, her son, Paul, daughter-in-law, Tamara, and granddaughter, Lane, and her extended family. I had the privilege of knowing Sally for over 20 years. It started when she and my husband, Keith, were on Council together and we began our friendship. Then, we worked together as colleagues on Council. I always admired Sally for her dedication to Quinte West, always doing what was best for the city as a whole. And during the past two years, I admired her for the incredible inner strength she had, holding everything together for her family and friends, while managing her challenging health condition. Sally never gave up. She simply found ways to carry on and thrive. Sally and I spent countless hours talking on the phone and trying to go on little adventures, like visiting City Hall one last time. Sally loved every minute of that experience, as did I, and all of the staff and friends we saw that day. I will miss my friend dearly and will forever hold her friendship and our time together in my heart. On behalf of the Reid family, I would like to let Sally’s family know how much she was loved, how fondly she will always be remembered.”
Following was Councillor O’Neil.
“I would also like to offer condolences to the family. What I will remember most about Sally is she really cared about Quinte West, even when she was sick, she would phone me and give me advice. When I first was elected, I remember I was speaking, I was very mad, and she phoned me up and she said ‘Dave, you gotta relax and don’t look so mad.’ And I’ve tried to do that.”
Next to speak was Councillor McCue.
“We often speak about our forefathers and how their insight helped shape our future. Well, I’d like to call my friend and colleague Sally Freeman a foremother of our city. Sally was the last to speak prior to a vote that took place in 1997 regarding the amalgamation of Trenton, Frankford, Sidney Township, and Murray Township, when it became known as the City of Quinte West after that vote. According to an article published at the time, her positive and passionate speech carried the day. I would like to think of her as the birthmother of our great city. Sally strived every day to ensure that Quinte West was the best for all of her citizens, having known her has made me a better person. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Following was Councillor Alyea.
“I first served and got to know Sally in the 1990s as I was a Murray Councillor along with Mayor Harrison at the time and we were apart of the negotiations that finally ended in this marriage as Quinte West. I’ve served the last 25 years with Sally, and I can say it’s been an honour and a pleasure, and I consider her not just my colleague, but a great friend. It was a great loss, it’s still hard to accept, and I know she had a hard fight on her hands these last couple of years. Just a week before she passed, we had a Council meeting, she was there virtually and her voice was as strong as if you didn’t know anything was happening, she was still Sally. It’s still hard to accept, but she was a great friend and colleague, and it was an honour to serve with her. I know she’s not going to be forgotten, she left a great mark and it was a great pleasure to know her.”
Next to speak was Councillor Card.
“I also want to offer my deep condolences to Sally’s family and loved ones. Given the breath of her career, I only knew Councillor Freeman for a short time, especially compared to some of my colleagues here today. But, I wanted to share some thoughts nonetheless. When I think of Sally, I think first about her love of Quinte West, she served on councils as many have mentioned both for the City of Trenton and the City of Quinte West for the last 30 years, that is a remarkable accomplishment and speaks to her tremendous dedication to the community. Her service is especially noteworthy in this era of growth and population and change. She had such a deep knowledge of the people and the events that have shaped our community over the previous generations and preserving that knowledge and shared history is even more valuable as we grow. When I think of Sally, I also think of a trailblazer. As was noted, she was a woman who served in a leadership role in two different municipalities over her career, beginning at a time when there were more barriers and significantly less female representation in any level of politics. When I think of Councillor Freeman, I also think of taking on big things. She was chosen to be a member of the Amalgamation Committee that would work to blend four different municipalities into a totally new one, such a monumental task. She was a tireless advocate for healthcare and delivering it to our community. I always respected her strong views and no nonsense attitude and I am thankful that she served our community.”
Following was Councillor Kotsovos.
“Many people remember Councillor Freeman as being a passionate supporter of Quinte West and promoting our city’s charm whenever possible. My fondest memory though, is when Sally found out that I was going to run for Council, she was genuinely encouraging. Many people in politics are not as supportive, especially when you’re running in the same ward. This team mindset is just one of the reasons Sally will be missed around our table. The courageous battle has ended, may you rest in peace.”
Next to speak was Councillor Sharpe.
“I met Sally when I started working in Trenton in 1995. I was the Manager of Recreation at the time. Together, we went through amalgamation of Quinte West in 1997, working together for 30 years, we became good friends and we attended many conferences, Sally liked those. Sally loved creme caramel, which was often served at the galas, and she always took mine. It was just a tradition to take it before it was served almost. Sally’s closet was full of dress clothes and blazers, mostly red, which I could borrow, and I did often. She always dressed like a proud Councillor and lady. We have many memories of things that went well and things that did not. Sally was one of the first Councillors to start trail development in Quinte West in 1996, when we were Trenton. We all know how hard she advocated for healthcare and the support to our hospital and community healthcare programs. Sally had a strong, determined voice, and she used it to represent the citizens and sometimes she used it on me to give advice. She really enjoyed serving on the former Protective Services Committee and she liked working with John and all of the firefighters. Sally loved her family, her cat, Frankie, her friends, her fish and chips, and her community. She even had a license plate with Quinte West on it. Sally is one of the strongest women I have ever met. Thank you, Sally, for your leadership, your friendship, and your strength. Rest in peace.”
Lastly to speak was Councillor Boyce.
“Although new to Quinte West, I have been a Councillor for many years on Belleville, and we hear a number of Councillors mention her love for the Quinte West area, but Sally and I sat on the very first Bay of Quinte Marketing Board, which represented the whole Bay of Quinte area, and Sally was concerned about the whole Bay of Quinte area and bettering that, not just Quinte West. We’ve often heard around the table ‘very strong and determined,’ and one thing that I mentioned to a friend the other day when they asked what it was like working with Sally, I said I always knew what Sally was feeling, she was very strong, but she was also very respective to all of us. Her words were so meaningful and right to the very end, she had that strong voice in her and she will be missed around this table.”
A Celebration of Life for Councillor Sally Freeman will be held from 2pm to 5pm on Dec 14 at the Trent Port Marina.
(HAILEY MACDONALD)
