Longtime former 91原创 Township councillor Grant Ward has died at the age of 80, following a brief battle with cancer.

Ward鈥檚 son Tony Ward posted the news on Grant Ward鈥檚 Facebook page, saying that Ward had died on Sept. 30.

According to Tony Ward, his father only learned of the cancer about a month before his passing. He and his wife Vera spent the first part of September visiting family, and after suffering a significant decline on his return, he had to enter hospital and then hospice.

Ward tried his luck at municipal politics in 1999, and was first successfully elected as a Township councillor in 2002, and served until 2014, when he was defeated.

A former RCMP officer, he arrived in 91原创 while still serving with the force in 1970, where he established the detachment鈥檚 first dedicated Traffic Detail.

Five years later, he was transferred and promoted, but he remained a 91原创 resident, and would live here for five decades.

After his retirement from the RCMP, Ward became a local business owner and was an enthusiastic recreational pilot. Before being elected to the Township council, he was involved in various community events, including chairing the 91原创 Canada Day Celebrations, as a director of the Downtown 91原创 Merchants Association, and with On-Stage-91原创.

He served on council under three mayors, starting with Kurt Alberts, then Rick Green, and finally Jack Froese.

鈥淗e will be greatly missed,鈥� said Coun. Petrina Arnason, who was chairing Monday鈥檚 council meeting. 鈥淥ur thoughts and prayers will be with his family at this sad time.鈥�

鈥淵ou could always count on him,鈥� Froese recalled of Ward.

If he couldn鈥檛 make it to a community event, Ward was always willing to step in and represent the Township council, Froese recalled.

鈥淗e was a fine public servant, and a fine gentleman,鈥� Froese said.

Former mayor Kurt Alberts also remembered Ward鈥檚 reliability in both political and private life, and his love of his family.

鈥淔amily always came first for Grant,鈥� Alberts said.

He remembered Ward鈥檚 love of square dancing and barbershop quartet singing.

When Alberts started a Memory Grove treeplanting project in Fort 91原创 some years ago, Ward was the first to sign up.

Everyone had the chance to name their tree.

鈥淕rant and Vera鈥檚 tree is named Toodle-oo,鈥� Alberts said.

After leaving Township politics, Ward remained active in the community, nominating pilot and former 91原创 Airport manager George Miller for Canada鈥檚 Aviation Hall of Fame.