The Cowichan Valley Regional District board said goodbye to longtime member and former chair Rob Hutchins last Wednesday night.
Hutchins moved to become alternate director for the Town of Ladysmith, while Mayor Aaron Stone stepped into the fulltime director’s chair.
Hutchins has been on the board for over 20 years and has made an impact fellow directors and alternate directors said.
"He always brought a regional perspective to the table," said former director Gerry Giles, putting regional interests first, though he considered his own community at all times.
"He championed the pursuit of a collective goal," she said. "What Rob did over the years benefited us all."
Hutchins was always considerate and compassionate, Giles said, while at the same time never shying away from making the hard decisions, which could, at times, be unpopular.
One of his greatest strengths was in mentoring those new to public office, giving them the benefit of his experience.
"Rob would make sure that he gave us a sounding board," Giles said. "Anytime I needed help Rob was there," from serving as chair to helping to serve a community turkey dinner."
Former chief administrative officer Frank Raimondo also had high praise for the longtime director.
Raimondo said that over the years he worked with 13 chairs of the board, and Hutchins was in his top five or six best.
Hutchins came to the board "knowing virtually nothing," he reminisced, but quickly grew into his role.
"I never worried about his commitment" to serve the Valley, Raimondo said.
"Rob, it was great working with you." Hutchins said his more than two decades on the board went extremely fast, and he leaves the body optimistic about the future of regional government in Cowichan.
"Thank you very much for the kind words," he concluded.
