Longtime councillor mourned in Simpson
Ron McCagg was a 'social conscience' on council, mayor says
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, May 28, 2015
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Father, friend, former mayor: after decades in Fort Simpson, Coun. Ron McCagg had many roles.
A memorial to Ron McCagg had already been put up by Monday at the point where his motorcycle left the road in Fort Simpson. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
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The 70-year-old councillor passed away May 22 after a motorcycle accident outside town, according to friends and family.
A stalwart for respectful dialogue, McCagg made his mark on council as mayor and later as councillor and had announced his intention to run for MLA in the upcoming territorial election.
At the time of his passing, he had served on village council for more than 20 years.
"Ron seemed to be a guy who was getting better with age - like a fine wine, a work in progress, he was just getting better," said Mayor Sean Whelly, who recalls many of McCagg's recent successes.
Most notably, McCagg was heavily involved in getting the village pool built three years ago, as well as getting the new library constructed.
"He was a gentleman. He did not like bullies; he liked to stand up for the little guy," Whelly recalled.
"I really saw a social conscience side to Ron, wanting to better the condition of people's lives here in Fort Simpson."
Longtime friend Robert Amundson said he was paralyzed when he heard of McCagg's passing.
He and McCagg had known each other for decades but had grown close in recent years.
Amundson remembers McCagg as a fabulous negotiator who called himself a "team-builder," and as someone who was incredibly generous.
"Ron pulled a lot of strings to help a lot of people here. He lived well beneath his means and he was a pretty humble guy," Amundson said.
"Nothing was ever a total loss for Ron - if you gained some experience out of it, then it was worth it in his eyes."
Amundson said McCagg had just gotten his motorcycle license two days before the crash.
"That motorcycle was his pride and joy," he said.
Another friend from way back, Mike Drake, the regional superintendent for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, agreed with that sentiment.
"He always had the biggest smile on his face when riding that thing," Drake recalled.
"He died doing what he really loved to do."
Drake met McCagg more than 30 years ago, when McCagg helped him find work in Wrigley so he could be with his girlfriend, who is now his wife.
"Ron always came across as though he had a rough exterior, but he was a marshmallow," Drake laughed.
A public funeral for McCagg will be held June 1 at 2 p.m. at the community centre.
If you would like to share your memories of McCagg in the Deh Cho Drum, email dehchodrum@nnsl.com or phone 695-3786.
