Since 1908
Chronicle The
98¢ (plus HST)
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40010318
www.ladysmithchronicle.com
www.chemainuschronicle.com inu nusscchr nu hron niiccle le..ccom
Cowichan season ends P. 16 with 1-0 loss
Serving Se errvvi Ladysmith, Chemainus and area
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Who was Cougar Annie? P. 13
Rex Hollett remembered as honest, generous Peter W. Rusland BLACK PRESS
NIOMI PEARSON/CHRONICLE
Saturday’s gorgeous sunny weather inspired many Ladysmith residents to get outside and have some fun in the sun, including Tom Hembroff, who went down to the marina to work on his catamaran, Piggy.
We’re the Ones to Call W
250-245-1111 2 Su P y Sue Perrey 410A First Avenue, Ladysmith
2 FOR 1
Rex Hollett, North Cowichan’s longest-serving, most-quotable mayor, died last Tuesday in hospital surrounded by family and friends. He was 79. Some folks were shocked about the passing of the Chemainiac most simply called Rex. “He was an absolutely honest person,” said former mayor and councillor Tom Walker. “Rex was known to count and save every penny of tax dollars he could. He was very tough that way, and a lot of people say he looked after the public purse really well, probably better than his own — and he looked after that pretty well, too, being a business man.” Former baseball and soccer coach Hollett started Chemainus’ B&H Tire in 1956 after moving to the struggling mill town earlier that year. It didn’t take long for Newfoundlander Hollett, and wife Georgina, to delve into local activities. Hollett was an avid Chemainus Rotary Club member, later serving as its president, and was on the chamber of commerce too. “Rex was a very active and enthusiastic Rotarian,” said Dr. Gerry Phillipson. “He was a good auctioneer but didn’t like doing it much, but Rex loved to talk. “He’ll be remembered with respect and affection,” Phillipson said, echoing Walker’s words. “Rex was best known for his integrity and fiscal responsibility while in
office — he also took responsibility for his own health and habits. The community will miss him.” That includes Graham Bruce, who served with Hollett for years on council. “I worked with Rex for 11 years as a councillor, then as mayor, then provincially,” the former B.C. cabinet minister said of straight-talking Hollett. Hollett was a councillor between 1977 and 1987. His five terms as mayor spanned 1988 to 1996, then again between 1999 and 2002. “Rex certainly wasn’t shy about giving his opinion and had a humorous way of doing that,” said Bruce. Banter aplenty surfaced in the late ‘70s when mayor Bruce debated with former councillors Hollett, Glen Ridgway, Paul Osborne, Allan Hussey and others. “It was a real transformational council with so many things still pertinent today set in place, and Rex was part of that,” said Bruce. “He added lots of colour to those discussions. it was great deal of fun in those days with that host of characters. We were into lots of land-use planning and subdivision control; it was a great example of how people left their partisanship at the door.” Former Duncan mayor Mike Coleman shared that democratic view. “Rex and I went to an awful lot of meetings together, including the CVRD,” he said. “He was certainly colourful, single-minded, and tough but very fair.” See Hollett’s Page 3
When Buying or Selling Give Luke or Sue a call for a FREE MARKET EVALUATION
Luke Kolk Lu olk
www.IslandHomeSales.com