Tributes at the Legislature

JOHN SLATER

Hon. C. Clark: Madame Speaker, it is with tremendous regret and sadness that I inform you and this House today that one of ours, a former member of this House, MLA John Slater, has passed away.

Anyone who knew John knew that he was incredibly passionate about his home and the people who made Osoyoos so special. That passion led to 30 years of dedicated public service in favour of the community that he loved so much, and he lent his time to everything from coaching young people to volunteering with the chamber of commerce. He stood for public office, first as a councillor, then as mayor and then, of course, as we all got to know him, as the MLA representing that community.

But those of us who knew him well enough always knew that John never defined himself first as a politician. He always defined himself first as a farmer. He wasn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and get started on the work that needed to be done, like all the farmers I know. So when he became an MLA, he took on the challenges that he was presented with, with real vigour, including laying the groundwork to modernize the century-old legislation that protects B.C.’s water. He was very proud of the Water Sustainability Act, which has recently been passed in this Legislature — and for very good reason, because he was very much a part of shaping it.

Throughout Boundary-Similkameen, if you go there today, you can find many more of the fruits of John’s hard work, the new high school in Oliver, the new Horizon Health Centre in Osoyoos, the expanded Midway arena, the new highway improvements and recently been passed in this Legislature — and for very good reason, because he was very much a part of shaping it.

But from a personal perspective, I think the thing that most of us, and certainly I, will remember about John the most is his incredible warmth and how generously he welcomed new people into his life without judgment and with a lot of kindness.

 I know that all members in this House, on all sides of it, will join me in extending our deepest condolences to John’s family, his friends, to everyone across the province whose lives he touched and made them better.