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| Mayor Herb Pond dug into the Prince Rupert theatrical archives on Monday showcasing her time in theatre for Iona Campagnolo as part of his remembrance of her life lived for City Council |
Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond recalled the life and times of Iona Campagnolo on Monday night at the opening of the Prince Rupert City Council session.
The long time resident of the city and much respected civic leader passed away last week at the age of 91.
Mrs. Campagnolo, a former City Councillor, Member of Parliament and Lieutenant-Governor of BC to name just a few of her many accomplishments was saluted by Mr. Pond for her impact on the community during her years on the North Coast.
His retrospective covered her time growing up at North Pacific Cannery as a cannery kid and as her accomplishments grew in the community, her placement among those in Prince Rupert who had been bestowed the freedom of the City.
"There are twelve pictures on the back wall, all Freedom of the City. She was the last of all those that was still alive, all of the others have passed.
All of those people have made significant contributions to the City of Prince Rupert.
But I would say without much fear of being contradicted that Iona's star rose perhaps higher than only other"
From that opening, Mr. Pond recounted her time in local theatre as well as the start of her political life, first as an alderwoman on City Council then moving on to Federal politics.
"She eventually became an alderwoman as they were called at the time, served on this council. Sat here as a city councillor. She made a successful run for the Skeena riding MP and served in the Liberal Party under the Trudeau government.
And in fact was appointed a cabinet minister of Amateur Sport. She eventually became quite integral in Canada winning the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary"
Included in the tribute was a listing of the large volume of awards she received and her service to the province both as the founding chancellor at UNBC, as well as her time as the first female Lieutenant-Governor.
Of that period as Lieutenant-Governor, the Mayor also noted of her long time work on Indigenous issues, that in a period of BC history that was well before reconciliation became a policy program.
"One of the things that she brought to that office, which had not really been a common thing in that era, was a real move towards reconciliation with First Nations people.
She was given two names a Haida Name and a Tsimshian name.
She incorporated that into the design of her uniform. And I've personally witnessed her outreach in that way in a very strong way in a time that was ahead of her time"
Part of the Mayor's review focused on his previous time as Mayor and the inter-actions that he had with her as Lieutenant-Governor, noting of how she filled the role impressively.
"It's rare, I think in this life to encounter a person who has both the common touch that she had and marry it with the incredible class that she brought to that office.
When you were in the presence of the Lieutenant-Governor, you knew you were in the presence of a really, really special human being.
So I just think it's just so appropriate that we take a moment this evening before we begin our business, to acknowledge the passing of a truly great citizen of Prince Rupert and sending our condolences to the family"
Also joining in on the remembrances upon Ms. Campagnolo's passing was City Manager Robert Buchan who shared some moments from his time in municipal government in the Victoria area.
Mr. Pond's tribute opens the City Council Session, you can review his historical reminiscences from the video below.
More notes from the Monday Council session can be reviewed here.
We have been complaining some of the tributes to Mrs. Campagnolo on our political blog Darcy McGee which you can review here.
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