Former Abbotsford mayor dies at age 91
Former Abbotsford Mayor George Ferguson died Tuesday evening at the age of 91.
Ferguson began his political career as an alderman in 1969. He then served as the mayor of the District of Abbotsford from 1972-1995.
Following the district’s amalgamation with Matsqui, Ferguson continued as mayor of the city from 1995 to 2002, when he was defeated in an election.
Before his defeat in 2002, Ferguson had been B.C.’s longest-serving mayor, as a 30-year incumbent. He was re-elected in 2005 before retiring in 2008.
“He was the best example of what a true public servant should be,” said longtime Abbotsford Coun. Patricia Ross. Ross recalled her first time at a Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference and how Ferguson took her under his wing and offered to introduce her to others because she didn’t know anyone else.
“I thought he would take me around the room to all these people. We only just had to stand in the corner of the room — everybody, from across Canada, they knew George, they respected him, they’d come over to say hello,” she shared.
“George devoted himself, heart and soul, to Abbotsford.”
In 2011, Ferguson was honoured with the Order of Abbotsford for his years of service to the community and in office, and was also selected as Abbotsford’s Citizen of the Year.
He has also served as the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and of the Union of B.C. Municipalities.
His daughter, Catherine Ferguson — the 10th of 11 children — also entered politics, serving for one term as mayor of White Rock beginning in 2008, the same year her father retired.
Ferguson had also spent time serving in the Second World War.
He is survived by his wife, Ria, and 11 children. Plans are underway for a funeral on March 18.