Ken Boshcoff

Kenneth Boshcoff (born June 20, 1949) is a Canadian politician who has currently served as the mayor of Thunder Bay since October 2022. He previously served as mayor from 1997 to 2003. Boshcoff also served as a member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Rainy River from 2004 to 2008.

Early life

Boshcoff was born in Fort William and was raised in Westfort by parents of Ukrainian/Polish and Bulgarian descent. He attended Crawford, St. Ann, St. Patrick, and Westgate schools. Boshcoff then studied at Lakehead University as an undergraduate, where he received degrees in Economics and Political Science in 1972. In 1975, he graduated from York University with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies.

As a teenager, he began an office-cleaning company and then worked a series of part-time jobs until completing his degrees.

Mr. Boshcoff obtained work in the Provincial and National Parks systems to pay for his tuition and developed his environmental skills in Quetico, Pukaskwa, Gros Morne, Terra Nova, and the St. Lawrence Islands.

He later worked for the Federal Government as the District Planner for Indian and Northern Affairs. After that he joined the family insurance business, moving to the Thunder Bay Port Authority as their Director of Marketing. Later, with his brother, he formed a new company "Boshcoff & Associates" until becoming Mayor.

Political Career

First stint at city hall Boshcoff was first elected as an alderman of Thunder Bay in 1979 and served (as councillor in later terms) until 1997.

Two terms as MP After six years as mayor, Boshcoff in 2004 contested the federal seat, by then redistributed as Thunder Bay—Rainy River, as the candidate for the Paul Martin led Liberals. The 2004 contest was the first of four contests Boshcoff faced off NDP candidate and later MP John Rafferty. Boshcoff retained the seat for the Liberals, beating Rafferty by a five-point margin.

In 2014, he challenged incumbent mayor Keith Hobbs in the 2014 municipal election, losing to Hobbs by a six-and-a-half-point margin.

Third city hall tenure In 2022, four decades after he was first elected an alderman, Boshcoff sought the mayoralty again when incumbent mayor and former provincial minister Bill Mauro opted to stand down after one term. He edged out political newcomer Gary Mack in a competitive contest with a four-point margin.

Electoral record

Municipal

Federal