It was a pleasure to welcome hundreds of delegates from across B.C. to the 2014 British Columbia Elks and Royal Purple Association 86th Annual Provincial Conference.
Our own Elks Lodge #239 has a proud 84-year history in Williams Lake, and our Royal Purple members have been serving the community for 64 years.
Thank you to Elks Lodge president Arnie Zimmerman, and Royal Purple past president Gloria Limb and new president Kay Mellish and all of their members for all that you do for our community.
I also attended the reception for survivors and the opening of the Relay for Life Saturday.
As always, it was a powerful experience.
Cancer affects us all at some point in our lives.
I applaud the courage of all survivors, and was moved by the inspirational testimony of Carol Grosso, who shared from the heart her amazing journey over the last eight years.
Thank you.
Hats off to the organizers for another successful Relay.
You make a real difference in the lives of all those affected by this terrible disease.
Congratulations to water and sewer foreman John Halfnights, who retired last week after 40 years of service to the City.
His dedication to the Williams Lake water system has been incredible, and we are all grateful for his commitment, dedication, and for representing the city so well.
Enjoy your retirement John.
I met with the provincial Seniors Advocate, Isobel Mackenzie, during her stop in Williams Lake as part of her tour around the province to meet with seniors, and attended a town hall she held with Williams Lake seniors.
They discussed her role as the Seniors Advocate, and our seniors’ concerns.
I am grateful for Isobel and her position (the first such role in Canada) and I’m glad she is meeting with seniors around B.C. to hear from them.
It’s great that seniors will have someone in their corner to make recommendations to government.
I had the chance to meet this year’s First Nations role models, Mountain Lake Alphonse and Norma Handsor, at a School District 27 ceremony last week.
Mountain Lake and Norma, as well as the other seven candidates, are all to be applauded for their work ethics and their leadership.
They will make fine leaders for all of our youth. Congratulations!
Speaking of students, it’s grad weekend.
Every year I enjoy the ceremony, and seeing our young people start on new, exciting paths, whether to advanced education or employment.
Congratulations on your hard work to finish high school, and I wish you all the best as you take next the steps of your journeys.
See you at the parade!
Kerry Cook is the Mayor of Williams Lake.