HUDSON BAY — The Town of Hudson Bay is mourning a huge loss to their community this week as long-serving councillor and former mayor Elvina Rumak unexpectedly died last week.
Rumak is being remembered for her dedication to the town, especially for her 26 years on town council, 13 of which were spent as the mayor of Hudson Bay, the first female mayor in the town’s history.
Rumak’s 26 years on the town council are a small snapshot of the dedication to her community. She was a spokesperson and advocate for the town in many ways, said current Mayor Glen McCaffery, and would sing the praises of Hudson Bay to anyone who would listen.
“There is no one more devoted to the town than her. She has many projects, she was on every committee you could think of,” McCaffery said, including ones close to her heart like the aquatic centre, the Hudson Bay Route Association, and the Physician Recruitment Committee.
Rumak also cared for the people in her community, he said, and would also get to know people.
“She was always attending functions of things that she got involved in and if she didn't know you, she would walk up to you and find out who you are.
When asked why she was so dedicated, McCaffery said her response was always simple: “It’s my town and I love it.”
While Rumak wasn’t directly responsible for McCaffery running for council, she played a key role in him running for mayor after her, and was always encouraging and supporting him, he said.
Melfort Mayor Rick Lang and Nipawin Mayor Rennie Harper also remembered Rumak with great fondness.
Her love of Hudson Bay shone through everything she did or said, Lang said.
“She wasn't afraid to share her opinion and she certainly always stuck up for and promoted Hudson Bay as her home, and a place she was proud of and she was proud to be [their] mayor.”
Rumak’s strength was in her work and she was a wonderful person to have in the town’s corner when it came to things like provincial funding, Harper said.
“In every way that she could she went after the ministry for funding and she raised the profile of her community to the ministry and did a very good job of that.”
No one will ever truly know the full impact of her dedication, but Harper knows that Rumak was the reason and inspiration for Harper’s run for mayor of Nipawin.
Rumak died on Sept. 23. The family held a small, private funeral for her on Sept. 29 with community members being able to participate in a memorial drive by in her honour that afternoon.
Rumak will be missed by her husband Ernie, their children and grandchildren, and the many members of her town council family.
