A well-known Okanagan historian has passed away.
Bill Barlee, former host  of CHBC News’ award-winning show Gold Trails and Ghost Towns, died last last week – June 14.

Neville Langrell (Bill) Barlee (born 1932 in Grand Forks, British Columbia) is a Canadian politician who was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as a New Democrat in 1988. He served as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 1991 until 1993 and then as Minister of Small Business, Tourism and Culture from 1993 until 1996.

In 1999, Barlee was recruited by the Liberal Party of Canada and ran as the party’s candidate in the district of Kootenay-Boundary-Okanagan in the 2000 federal general election, where he was defeated by a margin of just over 8000 votes by incumbent Canadian

Barlee is best known for his TV show. Pieces from his collection were also used on his award winning television series Gold Trails and Ghost Towns, which ran from 1986 to 1996 on five different networks nationwide. The show is still seen in reruns.