With the death of regional councillor and former mayor Nancy Diamond, Oshawa has lost a veteran politician who spent more than two decades in public service and countless hours supporting local community organizations.
“I think the community is stronger and better because of her and what she was able to do for Oshawa and the region and it will be a great loss,” said Oshawa Mayor John Henry.
The mayor said Diamond was working at City Hall on Friday when she went home feeling unwell. Councillor Dan Carter drove her to the Oshawa hospital where her health deteriorated and she was transferred to a Toronto hospital.
Diamond died shortly before midnight Sunday. She was 76.
“I kind of expected to see her bounce back from this because she was strong and determined and unfortunately that didn’t happen and I really want to express my thoughts are with her daughter and grandchildren,” said Henry.
Born in 1941, Diamond was first elected to regional council in 1988 and served until 1991 when she was elected mayor of Oshawa. She served as mayor until 2003 and then returned to politics in 2010 winning the highest number of votes among all councillors in Oshawa when she came back to Oshawa’s council table.
Diamond was a strong and well-respected voice at both the regional and city council tables, serving as the chair of Oshawa’s finance committee at the time of her death. She was known for keeping an eye on the budget line and advocating for health care, seniors issues and for local autoworkers.
Henry described her as a mentor and said she was intelligent and always well-prepared. At the time of her death, Diamond was also serving as the city’s deputy mayor, a position appointed at the request of the current mayor.
“Here at City Hall she was here late in the evenings, often it was either I or her that were the last ones to leave, she took her job seriously, she always had a smile,” said Henry. “I think all members of council are better at their jobs because of the wisdom that she carried.”
Diamond had a lengthy history of community involvement. She earned the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for her community work. She was an honourary director of Friends of Second Marsh, an honourary member of the Durham Children’s Aid Society, an honourary president of the IODE Golden Jubilee, a member of the Oshawa Optimist Club, Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres board and she regularly delivered meals with Councillor Bob Chapman through Community Care Durham’s Meals on Wheels program.
Henry said behind closed doors, Diamond was the same person residents saw at council meetings and community events.
“Nancy was just Nancy, when you saw her laughing at the council meetings, that’s what you would see here during the day, she was here pretty much every day,” he said. “Every once in a while you’d hear her go to the cottage to spend some time with her daughter and grandsons.”
On Monday, condolences began to pour in.
“Councillor Diamond was a formidable force in municipal politics,” said regional chairman Roger Anderson. “She was a strong female leader at a time when it was less common to see women in senior public service roles. She also led many local community endeavours and will be truly missed.”
Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster shared the news at a Clarington council meeting.
“It is so very sad,” he said. “Our thoughts go firstly to her family but also to the City of Oshawa and Durham Region.”
City and regional flags will be flying at half-mast and books of condolences will be set up at Oshawa City Hall, 50 Centre St. S., the John Street branch of the Oshawa Senior Citizens Centre at 43 John St. W and Regional headquarters in Whitby. Funeral details have not yet been announced.
Diamond is survived by her daughter Suzie and two grandsons. Her husband, Fred, died in 2011.
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