Minister of Education and Child Care, Lisa Beare, stood in the Legislative Chamber on Thursday, April 2, to honour the life of former MLA Michael Sather.
Sather, a two-term MLA representing Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, died on March 27 at the age of 78.
“Michael was a good friend to so many of us here in this house. He was a fierce advocate for the people of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows and a passionate environmentalist,” Beare told her fellow MLAs.
Before public office, Beare explained, Sather led a life of community advocacy including the Pitt Polder Preservation Society, preserving the Blaney Bog, and Cog Wetland Regional Parks.
She said his love for the environment ran deep, but it was his desire to help people drove him to public office.
He was a constituency assistent and was eventually elected to the B.C. legislature in 2005.
“Throughout his time as MLA, he was known as someone who listened carefully, spoke honestly, and approached public service with integrity and an independence of mind,” she said.
Beare noted that he was a different type of politician – somebody who was not afraid to uphold his values, “and provoke his colleagues with conversation and a difference of opinion,” including reaching across the aisle to achieve the greater good.
He worked with 30 charities that had been cut off from funding, and had funding reinstated for them.
Beare said that even though Sather was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, the disease never slowed him down.
“Beyond his professional accomplishments, Michael must be remembered as kind, curious, deeply humane individual,” who left a lasting impression on all his colleagues on all sides of the legislature.
Thanks to Michael, Beare continued, agricultural land was protected, regional parks were stewarded, and an ongoing awareness of dementia grew.
“While we mourn Michael Sather’s passing, we also give thanks for his years of service and the legacy that he leaves behind,” said Beare, before telling a humorous story about how Sather was once attacked by a grizzly bear while hiking and knew he was still alive when he came around because he could immediately feel the pain.
She sent condolences to Michael’s widow Annette, his wife of more than 30 years, his family and friends.
“May his memory continue to inspire moral and thoughful service in this legislature and beyond. We will all miss you Michael.”
<!– r Y A X qreiwx SXXXfHIco –>