By Roy Wood

John Slater was remembered as a tireless advocate for his community and an affable, articulate and passionate gentleman with a natural gift for politics.

Former colleagues, political opponents and members of the community were universally saddened by the sudden death of the man who served for more than two decades as councillor, mayor and MLA.

Stu Wells, who served on council when Slater was mayor and then succeeded him in 2008, recalls him as a man with a “passion for Osoyoos and everything about Osoyoos.

“He had a passion for the water and the water board and a passion for governance. … He was certainly well known up and down the valley. A very warm, gregarious individual,” Wells said in an interview Wednesday.

Wells saw Slater as a political mentor. “When I got elected Mayor I certainly used a lot of his strategies. … He was chair of the Okanagan Water Basin Board and when I was mayor, I ended up being chair. …

“And when I passed the torch to Sue McKortoff, I advised her that she should be on the board,” because of the importance of the Osoyoos Lake to agriculture and tourism, the economic engines of the community.

Wells described Slater as a skilled politician. “He had lots of years at it. And he worked with so many different people.

“When he was in municipal politics he was just so well recognized. When he went to the UBCM or a large municipal government function, everybody knew John.”

McKortoff said Wednesday: “John was certainly a very positive politician around here. … He put in three terms on council and two as mayor and one as an MLA. And then he put his name forward to run for council again last November.”

McKortoff organized the Osoyoos Cherry Festival while Slater was mayor and recalls the help he provided. “John used to get all these people together to plan the day. John would get the RCMP, the fire department, the Elks for the beer garden and we’d all sit around and he’d say, ‘OK, Sue. Go.’”

She recalled Slater as someone always willing to help people out. “He was a great guy. … We’re going to miss him.”

Francis Sologuk, owner of the Home Hardware store in Osoyoos, said she is “truly saddened” at Slater’s passing.

Sologuk and her family came to Osoyoos at about the same time as Slater in the early 1980s. “We came here about the same time and we were young people who were new to the area.”

“He really did love the community. … He was proud to be from Osoyoos,” she said.

Osoyoos Art Gallery Co-curator Sue Whittaker remembers Slater as “a very dedicated dad to his kids. He was a very friendly guy with a terrific sense of humor.”

Whittaker, who was a regional district director when Slater was mayor, worked closely with him, particularly in choosing the artist for the sculpture that now graces the town square.

“I think he took his job as mayor very seriously and brought the town forward in lots of ways,” she said.

Michael Ryan, who ran against Slater for mayor in 2005, and subsequently served two terms on council from 2008 to 2014, remembers his one-time opponent as formidable.

“He was very articulate and able to speak off the cuff. He had been on council for several terms and was very knowledgeable,” Ryan said.

Although the two differed on matters of policy, Ryan recalls Slater as a dedicated public servant. “As mayor, he was on innumerable committees. He was a person who was very dedicated to his community.”

Slater was a natural politician, said Ryan. “He spoke easily. He was affable. He fit into the role of politician quite easily.”

Tom Shields, who was elected to council along with Slater in 1990, recalls him as being an active community member long before he entered politics.

Slater helped start a local fastball league. He was instrumental in the opening of the local chapter of the Kinsmen Club along with organizing slow-pitch tournaments and dances at Desert Park and Sunbowl Arena. “The man put years and years of service to the local community,” said Shields.

Among the accomplishments of that early 1990s council, Shields says, was the development of the Osoyoos waterfront. “When you look at it today, we do have a gorgeous waterfront. I think it changed the community in a positive way,” he said.

“The things that were accomplished when John was on council were immense. There was just a life and an energy that he brought to the community.”

Jack Whittaker, who served as the NDP Member of Parliament for Osoyoos-Similkameen-Merritt from 1988 to 1993, remembers Slater as an entrepreneur who moved to Osoyoos in the late 1970s and opened a waterslide on the east side of the lake.

“He was well respected in the area. Had a good sense of humor. A hard worker,” said Whittaker.

“We knew him well. We saw him on a regular basis. He coached our daughter in (junior high) basketball.”

Slater was elected to Osoyoos Town Council in 1990 and 12 years later made a successful run for mayor.

In 2009, running as a Liberal, he was elected as the MLA for Boundary-Similkameen.

Shortly before the 2013 provincial election, Slater resigned from the Liberal caucus after the party refused to sign his nomination papers, citing unspecified “personal issues.”

Linda Larson was a late replacement in the race and held the seat for the Liberals.

In November 2014 Slater made an attempt at a political comeback, running for a seat on Osoyoos council. He finished fifth in a contest for four seats.

According to a family member, Slater died in his sleep on Tuesday.