www.thunderbay.ca
November 3, 2009
N EW C ITY H ALL L OBBY HISTORY D ISPLAY
– “
THE CORNERSTONE OF CITY GOVERNMENT
”
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Installed in the lobby of the renovated City Hall, this four panel display documents the history of the city halls of Port Arthur, Fort William, and Thunder Bay.
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The display was researched and conceptualized by the City of Thunder Bay Archives and includes images from the City Archives as well as the Thunder Bay Historical Museum, and the Lakehead
University Library Archives.
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The display was designed by Generator Strategy Advertising and reproduced on acrylic by Signs Now.
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A complete history of the city halls of Port Arthur, Fort William, and Thunder Bay is available at www.thunderbay.ca/archives .
MAYORS
’
PORTRAITS
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A rotating display of the portraits of the Mayors of Fort William and Port Arthur has been installed in the renovated lobby.
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The first display features the portraits of those who served as Mayor between the start of WWII and amalgamation.
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The display will be changed twice a year.
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The portraits of Thunder Bay Mayors remain on display in Council Chambers.
SAUL LASKIN MEMORIAL PLAQUE AND DISPLAY
 A plaque commemorating Saul Laskin, Thunder Bay’s first mayor after amalgamation, will be installed in the lobby of the renovated City Hall.
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Mr. Laskin served as the Mayor of Thunder Bay from 1970 to 1972. His public service to area citizens included serving as the Mayor of Port Arthur from 1962 to 1969 and as a Port Arthur Alderman from
1959 to 1960.
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Mr. Laskin was born on May 15, 1918 and passed away on Oct. 4, 2008.
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Reproductions of photographs, writings, and clippings by or about Mr. Laskin will be on display in
Council Chambers on Nov. 3. This material has been generously made available by the Laskin family.
TIME CAPSULES 1903, 1939, 1966, 1973
 Construction workers discovered a time capsule in the wall of City Hall’s lobby on July 18, 2008.
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The time capsule contained items placed in the cornerstone stone of Fort William City Hall when it was re-built following the fire of 1903. Items were added to the time capsule in 1966 during the opening ceremony of the new Fort William City Hall. This building became Thunder Bay City Hall in 1970.
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It was subsequently learned, from former City Clerk Harry Kirk, that a second time capsule had been stored in the base of a podium constructed for the royal visit in 1939. The podium was refinished for the royal visit in 1973. The time capsule contains items related to these visits.
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Selected items from these time capsules were on display in Victoriaville Civic Centre from Aug.19, 2008 to Oct.14, 2009.
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The items from these time capsules have been combined and re-sealed into the wall of City Hall in the copper box discovered in 2008.

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A complete list of the contents and reproductions of selected items can be viewed at www.thunderbay.ca/archives .
T IME CAPSULE 2008 – 2009
 The City of Thunder Bay Archives and the Thunder Bay Historical Museum have partnered to create a
 new time capsule.
Citizen’s of Thunder Bay were encouraged to write a “Letter to the Future” in a blog on the City’s website. The City’s website also asked for suggestions for items for the new time capsule.
 The Museum ran an essay contest for elementary school children asking them to write an essay on “My
Vision of Thunder Bay” in 2058. Many of the entrants included drawings of the children’s vision of the city in 2058.
 The Archives and the Museum have partnered with various media outlets, including the Chronicle-
Journal, CBC Radio, TBTV, and Shaw TV to gather public input into what the time capsule should
 contain.
People were encouraged to suggest items that are unique and not likely to be found elsewhere when the capsule is opened in 2059.
 The new time capsule was constructed by Pay Ford Steel according to standards established by the
Canadian Conservation Institute.
 The time capsule will be sealed in the wall of City Hall’s lobby during the re-opening ceremony on
Nov. 3, 2009.