As we mark the passing of John Slater, former Liberal MLA and mayor of Osoyoos, let us especially remember and celebrate him as a champion for water.
Under his leadership as chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board from 2003 to 2008, the agency went through a dramatic renewal of mandate — from focusing primarily on aquatic weed control, to a dynamic organization earning national recognition for collaborative water stewardship.
It was this legacy of excellence that led to his 2009 appointment by Premier Christy Clark as Parliamentary Secretary for Water Supply and Allocation, supporting the modernization of the B.C. Water Act.
John cared passionately for water and for the Okanagan, and made a lasting difference.
Anna Warwick Sears, PhD
Executive Director, Okanagan Basin Water Board
