A Powell River businessman and former provincial MLA died in a float plane crash near Stuart Island on Tuesday, May 21.
Harold Long, 72, owner of City Transfer Ltd., was found in an aircraft that was floating upside down in Bute Inlet on the west side of Stuart Island.
Officials were notified at 5:23 p.m. that a DHC-2 Beaver float plane was spotted floating upside down in Bute Inlet.
Captain Pat McSorley, duty air coordinator at the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria, said the aircraft was spotted by someone coming back from a trip in a boat in the area.
They called Coast Guard radio who relayed it to the air rescue centre, he said. We sent the Cormorant helicopter out of Comox and the lifeboat out of Campbell River to investigate.
There was one person on board, McSorley said.
At that point, we also involved the RCMP and the Transportation Safety Board, he said.
Search and rescue technicians, the Canadian Coast Guard and RCMP attended the scene and completed the recovery later in the day.
The BC Coroners Service, Transportation Safety Board and RCMP continue to investigate the accident.
Long was the B.C. Liberal MLA in the Powell River-Sunshine Coast riding from 2001 to 2005. He announced in 2004 that he would not seek re-election.
He was also the Social Credit Party MLA for the riding, which was called Mackenzie, from 1986 to 1991.
Long joined his family's business, City Transfer, in 1958 and in 1979 purchased and expanded the company. He has four children.
Premier Christy Clark issued the following statement today, Wednesday, May 22:
"It was [with] great sadness that I learned of the death of Harold Long. Harold served as an MLA on two separate occasions, and set an example by always working to make his community and province a better place, said Clark. I served with Harold in the Legislature from 2001 to 2005 and will never forget his wise counsel and belief in giving back to British Columbia in ways big and small.
He embraced life with a great spirit. There were never any strangers when Harold was around. He treated everyone exactly the same like a friend.
"Harold's family can be immensely proud of all his contributions and his generous nature, both of which touched so many. My thoughts and prayers are with them."
