Residents poured into Ottawa City Hall Tuesday to sign a book of condolences and pay their respects to the family of former Ottawa mayor Marion Dewar.
Dewar died in a Toronto hospital Monday after taking a serious fall while attending the Toronto International Film Festival over the weekend. She was 80 years old.
"She just had a lot of spunk and believed in what she was doing and always trying her best, you know," said Claire Bauer, who was one of many to pass on her condolences to the Dewar family.
"I'm a feminist and I was delighted that she became mayor as easily as she did and there were just many ways that she improved our city," added Sheila Pepper, who was a city planner when Dewar served as mayor of Ottawa from 1978 to 1985.
One of Dewar's many accomplishments included a program called Project 4000, where she arranged for Vietnamese boat people to relocate in the capital.
"The look in their eyes of just almost days, but a sense of hope -- I thought maybe it's all worth while. Maybe this is what this job is all about," Dewar said about the project back in 1979.
After her third term as mayor, Dewar went on to become a Member of Parliament and president of the federal New Democratic Party.
Toddy Kehoe, who spent 11 years serving on Ottawa city council, told CTV Ottawa her concern for minorities, the poor and the disadvantaged was something Dewar always held close to her heart.
"The downtrodden woman who was down on her luck and living in poverty - she'd look at that woman and she'd say, 'You know, I've got something for you. I'm sure I can help your life to be better,'" said Kehoe
Her commitment to the city she lived in was also echoed in advice she passed on to others who hoped to make a difference while serving in municipal government.
Alex Munter told CTV Ottawa her words of encouragement helped him make the decision to run for mayor in 2006: "She said, 'It's not about you. It's about our city. You don't have a choice.' It was very powerful and I think reflects what she has always been about which is other people."
Although Dewar spent a long life in politics, religion was also very important to her.
"She was a deeply religious woman who went to Mass every morning," said Kehoe.
Dewar's body will return to Ottawa for a Lying in State in Jean Pigott Place at Ottawa City Hall between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday.
A public funeral will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Basil's Church on Rex Avenue in Ottawa's west end. Those wishing to make donations in Dewar's memory are asked to contact Oxfam Canada at
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Norman Fetterley
