Retired Owner of Embercrest Farm
Past Councillor, Peel County
Former Mayor of Caledon (1985–1991)
Retired and longest serving Peel Regional Chair (1991–2014)
Retired and long serving Peel Police Services Board

At Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Emil Kolb, at the age of 89 years, beloved husband of Beryle. Loving father of Paul and Marion, Jean, Mary and David (deceased), Susan and Bob. Cherished Grampa of John and Kim, Karen and Brad, Robert and Kelly, Amanda and Dean, Jessica, Ryan, Amelia and JoeBob. Proud Great-Grampa of Colby, Erica, Della, Zack, River, Rebel, Reed, Emmett, Kurtis, Everett, Vaida.

The family will receive their friends at the Egan Funeral Home, 203 Queen St. S. (Hwy. 50), Bolton (905-857-2213) on Monday afternoon 2 – 4 and evening 6 – 8 o’clock.

Funeral Mass will be held in St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 16066 The Gore Road, Caledon on Tuesday morning, June 24 at 10 o’clock.

Please join the Kolb family immediately following for a celebration at Glen Eagle Golf Club, 15731 Hwy 50, Caledon concluding at 2 o’clock. A private family interment will be held at Morningside Cemetery in Palgrave.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Bethell Hospice Foundation or Headwaters Health Care Foundation.

Public Service and Legacy

In 1965, Emil began a long and distinguished career in Public Service as County Councillor, Peel Region Councillor, Mayor of Caledon and finally as the longest serving Chair of both the Region of Peel and Peel Police Services Board.

Emil was a visionary leader, a true collaborator who lived and served his values of fiscal accountability by leading Peel Region in becoming debt free, building financial reserves, establishing funding for the protection of environmentally sensitive lands, and ensuring long-term sustainability for a rapidly growing Region.

Under his leadership Peel opened state-of-the-art water and wastewater treatment plants, developed a future-forward innovative waste diversion program, launched long-term care, newcomer services and affordable housing strategies. Emil championed the multi-million-dollar redevelopment of Peel Art Gallery and Museum Archives (PAMA) to ensure that the history, art, and historical archives of Peel were available to the public and not lost to time.

Emil continued in this endeavor in recent years by working with residents and local historians on the Caledon Trailway, Building the Dream Book Project, celebrating the history of the trailway through Caledon.

Emil Kolb was the long-serving Chair of the Peel Police Services Board and early in his tenure during the “social contract,” Emil saw an opportunity to change the budgeting practice of Peel Region Police which resulted in Peel Police Service erasing its capital debt in short order and then becoming the best financed police service in Canada.

Emil was a passionate believer in the civilian governance of police and spearheaded a number of initiatives that modernized police governance in Canada. His contributions to policing were recognized and honoured with the naming of the Emil V. Kolb Centre for Police Excellence in Peel Region and with honours from the Canadian Association of Police Service Boards.

Hazel McCallion said of Emil at his retirement, “If you want something done, give it to a farmer.” Emil used his knowledge and experience as a farmer in meeting immediate needs while keeping an eye to the future. And the future was never far from his thoughts — through his annual Emil Kolb Hootenanny he raised over 2 million dollars in support of Children’s Charities in Peel Region.

Emil was revered by Mayors, Regional Chairs, and leaders across the Country, but it was in the way he was respected by residents, staff at every level and community groups and organizations that set him apart from many others — he was a Gentleman Politician.

Memories and notes of condolence may be shared at Egan Funeral Home.