Cliff Kanester is being remembered for his forthright manner and rural passion.
The former BX-Swan Lake director at the Regional District of North Okanagan died March 28 at the age of 87.
“He was a common sense fellow,” said Patrick Nicol, RDNO chairperson, as the board held a moment of silence in Kanester’s honour Wednesday.
“He wasn’t afraid to be the one person in the room to think something different than other people in the room. He was an advocate of rural autonomy.”
The Saskatchewan-born and Creston-raised Kanester trained at the Vernon Army Camp in 1940 before being sent off to war. After returning to Canada, Kanester entered the utility construction industry, got married and moved around B.C. with his growing family.
In 1966, he was named superintendent of construction when the Vernon Irrigation District shifted from open canals to a pipe system. He remained with VID until the early 1990s.
Keenly interested in his community, Kanester got involved in politics and served several terms as BX-Swan Lake director.
“Cliff always had the people he represented at heart,” said Stan Field, former RDNO chairperson.
“He always wanted to do his best for taxpayers. Cliff could be direct at times but it was with the best of intentions. You always knew where Cliff was coming from.”
A primary focus was water and the evolution of the utility into its current form.
“His wise words will carry us as we discuss water because he knew what he was talking about,” said Nicol.
Kanester retired from the regional district board in 2009.
Kanester was predeceased by his wife Lillian in 2010, and he is survived by sons James (Anne-Marie) and Clint (Kathryn) and daughter Janet, as well as four granddaughters.
A celebration of life service for Kanester will be held at Pleasant Valley Funeral Home June 2 at 2 p.m.
