The long-serving St. Louis, who announced his retirement earlier this year, will be replaced in the City's top administrative position by Duncan Campbell, effective Monday, Sept. 29.

Next Monday's council meeting will mark the end of an era, and residents are encouraged to drop by to wish him well.

St. Louis has been with the City of Westmount since 1975, and has occupied the director general position for nearly half his career. During the past ten years, he saw Westmount through the most tumultuous period of its history — from crises such as the ice storm of 1998 and the Y2K computer threat the following year, through the forced merger with the City of Montreal and subsequent demerger process, which proved to be a huge bureaucratic challenge at the administrative level.

Widely praised by citizens and City officials alike, St. Louis has been noted for his unflagging loyalty and dedication to Westmount and its citizens, often visiting residents' homes to personally follow up on a complaint or respond to an enquiry. And, perhaps most visibly of all, he has been a regular fixture at Westmount's annual Family Day, running one of the carnival game booths.

Next Monday's city council meeting takes place at 8 p.m. at Westmount City Hall, 4333 Sherbrooke St. W.