Longtime councillor Eadie known for being principled

A former veteran Winnipeg city councillor, who was considered the historian of city council, has died.

Jae Eadie, who served the city for more than two decades as councillor for the former Deer Lodge ward and the St. James ward, died on Monday after a long battle with colon and esophageal cancer.

Eadie was 76.

Chris Lorenc, who was a city councillor alongside Eadie during the 1980s, remembered him as “just a top-notch person.”

“He was very principled and focused on what he thought was right. He was an intellect on council. He was one of those individuals who didn’t define his horizon within the narrow four corners of his constituency: he saw the big picture.

“I had a tremendous amount of respect for him. I’m just so sad for his immediate and extended family.”

Eadie was born and raised in Winnipeg and graduated from Miles Macdonell Collegiate. He didn’t go to university or college and instead went to work. He later owned his own insurance brokerage.

Eadie was first elected to city council in 1980 after losing twice — but once he got in, he was hard to beat. He was re-elected eight times, before finally losing for a final time against Scott Fielding in 2006.

“When he got in, he was so thrilled to be there,” said Rhoda, his wife of 51 years.

“He was fond of being a councillor. He always said city council should not be a political platform. It was the one place you could make change and make things better because, with the (provincial government), you are just one voice.”

Rhoda said years after her husband’s time on city council, serving councillors and others would phone him to ask about the history and background of various city issues.

While on council, Eadie was the longtime chairman of the works and operations committee (now called public works), the chairman of council’s secretariat committee, as well as being council’s first Speaker after changes were made to the City of Winnipeg Act that meant the mayor no longer chaired council meetings.

Eadie also served a term as president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

In Eadie’s honour, Scott Park at 125 Parkside Dr., was renamed Jae Eadie Park.

Eadie is also survived by his daughter, Donna.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca