Former Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy Passes Away

Krystine Therriault - Seaway News
Former Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy Passes Away

Garnet Leslie O’Shaughnessy, age 69, of Cornwall, Ontario passed away on Monday, August 14, 2023. Garnet died after a battle with cancer.

Cornwall-born O’Shaughnessy was very involved in local politics. He was appointed as a city councilor in 2003, ran for mayor in 2006 and lost. He returned to city council in 2010 before resigning in 2012 over concerns about councilor accountability and transparency.

In 2014 after being elected mayor, O’Shaughnessy encouraged the city to start collecting development costs when giving out permits to developers, a very successful initiative that helps the city cover the costs associated with growth.

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry was saddened today to learn that former Warden Leslie O’Shaughnessy has passed away. Flags will fly at half-mast at our administration building in Cornwall.

Mr. O’Shaughnessy’s legacy as a local politician includes time as Reeve of the former Township of Charlottenburgh, Warden of SDG Counties (1997) and Mayor of the City of Cornwall.

SDG Counties expresses its sincere sympathies to the O’Shaughnessy family.

We are saddened to learn that former Reeve of the former Township of Charlottenburgh, Leslie O’Shaughnessy has passed away. The Council and staff of the Township of South Glengarry extend our deepest sympathies to his family.
The City of Cornwall was saddened to learn of the passing of former Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy.
Mr. O’Shaughnessy’s career in Cornwall politics began in 2003, when he was first elected as Councillor. He was elected as Councillor once more in 2010, before being elected as Mayor in 2014.
Prior to being a member of Cornwall Council, Mr. O’Shaughnessy was Reeve of the former Township of Charlottenburgh and Warden of SDG Counties.
The City of Cornwall expresses its sincere sympathies to the O’Shaughnessy family.
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