Bob Cannon — Former councillor remembered in the community

July 4, 2014 · 0 Comments

Former councillor Bob Cannon was among those receiving Distinguished Citizen recognition at the Town of Caledon 2014 Volunteer and Citizen Achievement Awards celebration in April.

Flags were lowered in Caledon last week in tribute to Bob Cannon. The former area councillor for Ward 3 (Caledon East) died last Wednesday at home. He was 78. Mr. Cannon was first elected to Town council in 1978 and stayed there for 10 years, deciding not to run in 1988. At the time of his death, he was member of the Adjustment and Land Division Committees. He was also well known in the community as the proprietor of Burrell’s General Store on Airport Road (where the LCBO outlet is now). As well, he was a charter member of the North Peel Lions Club; former volunteer firefighter, member of Peel Masonic Lodge and a member of Valley Chapter O.E.S. No. 297. Peel Region Chair and CEO Emil Kolb was the Regional councillor for the ward when Mr. Cannon was first elected to council. “Bob was always a great help on where we go for the future,” Kolb said, adding Mr. Cannon, as a Lion, helped the club raise about $60,000 toward the construction of the Caledon Community Complex. “I know he was always a great supporter of having recreation in Caledon East,” Kolb said, adding he was also a big help when the Town decided to buy the abandoned CN Rail line right-of-way that snakes through town (now known as the Caledon Trailway). “He was always interested in improving roads too,” Kolb observed. “He’s been a great community person, who always had the community in his mind and his heart.” “He was good to work with and he worked well with his constituents,” former councillor Lily French recalled. She also recalled Mr. Cannon was born and raised in Caledon East. “He was a book of knowledge of who lived there and who was related to who,” she said. “He was always smiling. Happy person. He will be missed.” Mr. Cannon is survived by his wife Shirley, daughter Hellen and her husband Steve, son Robert and his wife Barbara, and daughter Julie and her husband Bruce, along with six grandchild and two great-grandchildren Services for Mr. Cannon were held Monday at Egan Funeral Home in Bolton. Interment was at Caledon East Public Cemetery.