Longest-serving council member, Joseph Kushner, known for his frugal approach to tax dollars and nicknamed “Doctor No,” “Professor Negative,” “Frosty the No-man,” and “No Joe Kushner,” is stepping down after nearly 50 years in St. Catharines, Ont. The 85-year-old, who has undergone brain tumor surgery and is retiring to care for his wife Yvette and address his health issues, will also be leaving his role as an economics professor at Brock University.
Councilor Matt Harris praises Kushner’s fiscal conservatism and community contributions, highlighting his tendency to prioritize practicality over flashy new projects. To commemorate his retirement, a second edition biography titled “Canada’s longest-serving councillor” has been released, chronicling Kushner’s remarkable career serving under seven different mayors.
Co-author Wesley Turner, a former colleague of Kushner at Brock University, emphasized the importance of documenting Kushner’s story while he is still alive, noting that he holds the record for the longest tenure as a municipal councilor in Canada. The biography, which includes interviews, childhood photos, and newspaper clippings, sheds light on Kushner’s diverse interests, such as his love for animals, antique telephones, and cabbage rolls.
An advocate for animal welfare, Kushner’s involvement as a volunteer board director at the Humane Society of Greater Niagara led to “The Kushner Cat Corner” in his honor. Despite being known as a rabbit enthusiast, particularly of the Flemish giant breed, Kushner also shares his passion for antique telephones and historical anecdotes, as seen in his collection of a hand-cranked telephone magneto linked to the Second World War.
Describing himself as a fan of homemade pierogies, especially his mother’s cabbage rolls, Kushner’s Ukrainian heritage shines through his culinary preferences. The Humane Society of Greater Niagara is offering copies of Kushner’s biography for $20, with proceeds benefiting the animal shelter, providing an opportunity for the community to learn more about the man behind the nickname “Doctor No.”
(Photo Caption: Joseph Kushner and historian Wesley Turner, left to right, reveal the printed biography after gathering interviews, childhood photos, and newspaper clippings since 2023.)