The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake was preparing to raise its flags for the return of Canadian Olympians but the death of former Ontario premier Bill Davis has prompted the town to keep them lowered.

Davis was premier from 1971 to 1985, and died Sunday at the age of 92.

“The flags will stay at half-mast for the next few days until premier Davis’ funeral,” Lord Mayor Betty Disero said in an address to councillors Monday.

“We’ll wait to raise the flag for the Olympians.”

In public office for over 25 years, Davis was the longest-serving premier behind Oliver Mowat, who led Ontario from 1872 to 1896.

Davis' final years in office marked the end of 42 years of the Progressive Conservatives governing Ontario.

He is remembered for educational reforms he brought to the province and for negotiating the constitutional accord with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1981.

“He really was a premier who accomplished a lot. It's sad, it really is the end of an era,” Disero told The Lake Report.

“I remember politics back then and just how professional and open and really forward thinking (it was) during that time.”