One of Sault Ste. Marie’s longest-serving politicians has died.

Steve Butland, the northern Ontario city’s former mayor and member of Parliament, was 84 when he died on Oct. 15.

He spent more than 30 years serving the public, including as an MP from 1988-1993, as mayor from 1996-2000, and as a city councillor from 1980-1988 and 2003-2018.

Butland was awarded the city’s highest honour in 2018 — the Medal of Merit — and received the Key to the City in 2025.

Steve Butland receives Medal of Merit in Sault Ste. Marie

One on One with Markus: Sault Ste. Marie politician Steve Butland

In a statement issued Tuesday, Sault Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said it’s rare for someone to serve as long as Butland did and still be respected so widely.

“Steve entered politics to serve others and to impr

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