Visitation for Cambridge councillor to be held at city hall, funeral on Saturday

People will be able to pay their respects to the late Cambridge city councillor, Frank Monteiro, Thursday evening and Friday afternoon and evening at city hall.

The visitation sessions will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, then from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in Cambridge on Saturday at 11 a.m. with parish prayers to be recited Friday at 8 p.m.

Monteiro, who had been a councillor since 2010, died Tuesday morning at Cambridge Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family after an illness. He is survived by his wife, two children and two grandchildren.

Tributes to Monterio have come from his colleagues. Cambridge Mayor Kathryn McGarry called him a "wonderful advocate for Cambridge and his constituents" and his work made the city "a stronger and better place."

"He will be missed immensely by many in this community," she said.

Monteiro, who spent 35 years as a police officer with the Waterloo Regional Police Service, was also remembered by police Chief Bryan Larkin as a "passionate community leader and proud retired member of WRPS."

Fellow councillor Nicholas Ermeta wrote on Facebook that Monteiro "recognized the true meaning of public service and left Cambridge way better than he found it."

Ermeta said even though the two of them "didn't always agree on everything, I knew he always did what he thought was right."

Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said Monteiro was "a man who loved people, loved Cambridge and made us laugh."

Monteiro's message to his city

During Tuesday night's council meeting, Coun. Mike Mann read a message Monteiro wrote to the community during his illness. This is what Monteiro wrote:

Cambridge is a beautiful city. It has been my home since I moved here with my family when I was a 13-year-old immigrant from Santa Maria in the Azores.

It is here that I got the opportunity to serve as the first Portuguese police officer in Ontario and then, 35 years later, as the first Portuguese City Councillor.

I have represented Ward 7 for the past three terms and I have watched our community mature and become a dynamic part of the Region of Waterloo.

For me, coming to City Hall each day, working with my constituents on various issues and to stand up for the "little guy" at the Council table has been a great privilege. It has gifted me with a great sense of accomplishment.

I am so very proud of what we have been able to achieve together and I am proud that we live in one of the safest, most fiscally responsible communities in south-western Ontario. Cambridge is blessed with beautiful heritage buildings, the Grand and Speed Rivers and, of course, residents who truly value community.

Although we have accomplished so much, there is still work to be done. I believe Cambridge needs to use its resources already at hand to build a park area downtown to promote outdoor skating in winter and active participation in the summer.

We need to look to the entrance of our City and welcome visitors with the three fountains in good working order to proclaim Cambridge as a special place.

As well, we need to continue the work on improving our gorgeous trail systems.

I have been in the hospital for a while. This time has given me the chance to think and reflect.

I have always taken the responsibility of working for the people of Cambridge seriously and, as you all know, I don't back down from a fight. I have always spoken my mind even when it got me in trouble.

This time, I am in a fight that I know I can't win. But I have had a great ride. Believe me when I say I appreciate all that life and this city has given me.

And my final request to the community is to take some time to think about all the reasons why Cambridge is such a wonderful city.  This is a place that is the envy of other communities. I encourage you to be ambassadors of our home.  Embrace your surroundings. There is not enough time for negativity. It's not worth it, friends.

I want to thank everyone for their friendship, support and encouragement. I have been thinking a great deal about my police colleagues, my Portuguese community and all the incredible staff at Cambridge City Hall.  I admit that I will truly miss being in the middle of all the heated debates at City Council (many started by yours truly).

My family and friends have always been my number one fans and they have been by my side since my diagnosis. The staff at Cambridge Memorial Hospital is second to none. 

To everyone, I give you my blessings, my love, and my heartfelt thanks for this wonderful journey.

Tributes to Monteiro

There have been a number of tributes to Monteiro online.