Mayor Mat Siscoe presents Councillor Joe Kushner with Key to the City at final Council meeting

After 50 years of service on St. Catharines City Council, Councillor Joe Kushner was presented with the Key to the City tonight during his final Council meeting.

Kushner, Canada’s longest-serving municipal councillor, was first elected to represent St. Andrew’s Ward in 1976 and has served continuously on Council for five decades. After deciding to not seek re-election in the 2026 municipal election, Monday marked his final Council meeting. Mayor Mat Siscoe said presenting Kushner with the Key to the City at his final Council meeting is a fitting way to recognize a lifetime dedicated to this community.

“Fifty years of public service is an incredible achievement, but Joe’s legacy is about much more than the number of years he has served,” said Mayor Siscoe. “For generations of residents, he has been a constant for City Council, always focused on representing his constituents and being a careful steward of taxpayer dollars. His commitment to St. Catharines extends well beyond Council, through his work as an educator, philanthropist and volunteer.”

During his time on Council, Kushner served alongside seven mayors and became known for his fiscal prudence, deep knowledge of the City and commitment to the residents of St. Andrew’s Ward. His contributions to St. Catharines also extend well beyond the Council Chamber. Kushner joined Brock University in 1969 and spent more than five decades as an economics professor, educator and mentor. He has also been a longtime supporter and volunteer with organizations across Niagara, including the Humane Society of Greater Niagara and Niagara Symphony, while contributing to numerous other community causes.

Earlier this year, Kushner’s historic municipal career was documented in the book Canada’s Longest Serving Councillor Joseph Kushner, co-authored with economic historian and retired Brock University professor Wesley Turner.

“Joe has been my ward mate, colleague and friend, and there really is no replacing the experience and perspective he brings to the Council table,” said St. Andrew’s Ward Councillor Matt Harris. “He has never been afraid to ask tough questions or say no when he doesn’t believe an expenditure is in the best interests of taxpayers. At the same time, there is another side of Joe that people may not always see - his generosity and the countless ways he has quietly supported people and organizations across our community. I’ve been fortunate to serve alongside him and learn from him.”

In May 2025, the City officially renamed Woodgale Park as Joe Kushner Park in recognition of his longstanding service to St. Catharines. Harris brought forward the Council motion that led to the renaming.

Kushner has credited a simple lesson from his father with helping guide his decades in public life: that an elected representative’s job is to serve the public.

The Key to the City is bestowed upon individuals whose significant contributions have reflected positively on the community. Kushner joins a prestigious list of recipients of the Key to the City, including Edward Burtynsky, Robert Cooper, Tim Denis, Mary Ann Edwards, Norm Foster, Dr. Rosemary Hale, Doug Hamilton, Tim Hicks, Fergie Jenkins, Kristen Kit, Dr. Jack Lightstone, Dr. Dan Patterson and Tom Rankin.

“Joe’s 50 years on Council represent a remarkable chapter in the history of St. Catharines,” said Siscoe. “On behalf of the City and our residents, it is a privilege to thank him for his service and recognize that legacy with the Key to the City.”