Winnipeg activist Nick Ternette dies

The wife of longtime Winnipeg activist Nick Ternette says her husband wants to be remembered as someone who believed in democracy and human rights.

Ternette, 68, died peacefully just after midnight Mondayat St. Boniface GeneralHospital, according to his wife, Emily.

He had beenfighting health problems for many years and was recently ina palliative care unit.

For decades, Ternette was actively involved at Winnipeg City Hall, speaking out at community meetings when he felt there was injustice.

Emily Ternette says despite her husband'soutspoken, passionate personality, he always had a softer side.

"He really was a kind, very sweet man. He wouldn't hurt a fly," she told CBC News.

"He was such a genuine person. He couldn't lie to save his life. What you saw with Nick is what you got."

Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Jenny Gerbasi knew Ternette for 30 years and was shaken to hear of his death.

"He's a part of Winnipeg. I mean he's a person that many people admired," she said.

"He was always speaking up for what he believed in, so it's very sad news that we'd lose someone like that."

'Citizen Nick'

Known by many in Winnipeg as Citizen Nick, Ternette made hundreds, if not thousands,of presentations at city hall after getting involved in civic politics in 1970.

He spoke up at everything from committee to budget meetings when he saw injustice, said Gerbasi.

"Even if he was the only one here, you know, he was sort of holding the candle of citizen participation in city hall processes and he always focused on municipal issues," she said, adding he was passionate about sticking up for the rights of the downtrodden.

"I think that was his core identitysomebody who was fighting the fight for social justice and for the underdog."

Mayor Sam Katz said even though he and Ternette may have disagreed at times, he greatly respected Ternette's passion for civic issues.

"I remember when he appeared and told us this would be his last time because he was retiring as an activist. I knew that Nick would still be around it was in his blood and he would still come once in a while," Katz said.

Ternette also ran for mayor of Winnipeg in 1977, again in 1986, 1989, 1995 and 2002. As well, hecampaigned for the leadership of the provincial NDP in 1979.

Illness sidelined him on occasion but he always fought it "like he's fought everything:with strength and dignity," said Gerbasi.

Both legs amputated

In 2009, both of Ternettes legs were amputateddue to a massive infection. That slowed him down but didn't stop him from making his presence known at city hall.

A year later though, Ternette decided to refocus his efforts. Rather than taking on his regular load of rabble-rousing at City Hall, he narrowed hisfocus onmaking Winnipeg a more accessible city.

Emily Ternette, who is also in a wheelchair, said she is most impressed by her husband's strength and courage in the face of adversity.

"He looked at me one day and he said, 'Emily, I'm still me. I'm just doing it in a wheelchair. Like, it's no big deal. I'm the same person inside. I can think; that hasn't changed,'" she said.