A Celebration of the Life of former Timiskaming MP Ben Serre takes place this Saturday in Warren.
Serre represented the riding for the Liberals from 1993 to 2004 when he retired from politics.
Serre is the uncle of Nickel Belt MP Marc Serre.
He died May 11th at the age of 68.
Charlie Angus, the New Democrat MP for Timmins-James Bay worked with Serre on many issues.
On hearing about his death, Angus said Serre was a “guy who fought for his region and bucked the system”.
Angus says Serre will be remembered as an individual who represented the people and not the Liberal Party brass.
“Most politicians go to Ottawa and forget who sent them there,” Angus said.
“It is easy to get caught up in the partisan party lines. Ben didn’t do that.”
Angus says when he first took office in 2004 after Serre retired, he resolved to make that same commitment to the voters.
He adds that in 2006, Serre endorsed Angus’ re-election bid.
Marc Serre says his uncle was the first Francophone to be elected in the former Timiskaming riding.
Ben Serre followed his older brother Gatean Serre into federal politics.
The late Gaetan Serre was the father of Marc Serre and he served Nickel Belt from 1968 to 1972.
The Celebration of Life for Serre takes place at the Warren Arena from 11:00am to 2:00pm May 25th.
Serre says at the request of his uncle’s family members, donations should be made out to Indigenous Women’s Issue.