Family and friends of all political stripes gathered Saturday night in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia to pay tribute to a woman who is retiring after two decades in local politics.

A dinner and roast of Dartmouth Councillor Gloria McCluskey was held at the Lions Club after the 84-year-old announced earlier this year she plans to step down at the end of her term this fall.

McCluskey was the final mayor of Dartmouth for four years prior to amalgamation in 1996 and has been a vocal advocate for the city.

Her advocacy was a common theme during the speeches.

McCluskey accepted a number of awards during the evening. (Wayne Harrett)

Former city councillor Andrew Younger reminisced about meeting McCluskey first when he was a young paddler on Lake Banook and she was very active in the paddling community.

He joked that amalgamation was her fault because she was such a good mayor there was no one who could follow her.

Younger said he learned a lot from McCluskey while they sat on council together.

"She doesn't mind telling people what she thinks and I kind of learned that from her as I went along, " he said.

Younger called her a fighter who had a fun side and was fiercely proud of her children.

Other speakers during the evening included MP Darren Fisher and Halifax Mayor Mike Savage. On Thursday, Fisher paid tribute to McCluskey in the House of Commons.

Dartmouth-Cole Harbour MP Darren Fisher (right) with Michael McCluskey. (Facebook)

McCluskey was also given several gifts during the evening, including a T-shirt with "Straight Outta Dartmouth" printed on it.

Many in attendance murmured in agreement when Younger said it wouldn't be the last the city has heard from McCluskey.

"She is retiring from politics and her voice is definitely not going to be silenced. It will just speak in a different way," he said. "You will always be our champion."