I was very sad yesterday to hear that City Councillor Bob McWhinnie had passed away. All of us who knew of his illness realized it was coming, but hope springs eternal.

When I think of Bob, the first word that comes to mind is passion — passion for Kimberley; passion for the kids of Kimberley. And the next word is humour. There are very few small town politicians with the ease in public speaking and the facility with words that Bob exhibited. Take for example, Bob addressing the deer issue at the All Candidates Forum in 2008. “At the risk of passing the buck,” Bob began, to giggles from the audience, continuing with a suggestion that the audience Google some good venison recipes.

At the same forum, he vowed to pursue more federal dollars for Kimberley, saying, “I will befriend Jim Abbott whether he likes it or not.”

Little wonder that on Election Day in 2008, Kimberley rewarded him with more votes than any other candidate for Council.

From his tireless efforts on the Skatepark, to his cheerful and humourous broadcasting at KIOTAC and JulyFest to his lifelong passion for skiing and ski racing, Bob shared his love of Kimberley with those around him. He fought hard for those skiers, going toe to toe with Mayor Jim Ogilvie on occasion, and with Resorts of the Rockies when he felt it was required.

He was every teenager’s favourite substitute teacher; a man able to speak to youth in their own language, without ever seeming patronizing. As Mayor Jim Ogilvie said when Bob was honoured with a Paul Harris Award by Rotary this past December, Bob was so hands on with the Skatepark that it wasn’t unusual at all to drive by and see him pushing a wheelbarrow full of dirt.

Kimberley will miss Bob McWhinnie. He loved his adopted hometown; and Bob, we loved you back.