Jakob Knaus is being remembered as a strong advocate for the ferry users of the Sunshine Coast and for years of contributions to the community.
Knaus, who was born and grew up in Switzerland before an international business career eventually brought him and his wife Marlis to Canada, died Sept. 25 in Sechelt at the age of 90.
Knaus and Marlis moved to Wilson Creek and became Canadian citizens in the early ’80s. He was active on the school board, chamber of commerce and most recently the local Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC).
“We were fellow FAC members from the inception of the Southern Sunshine Coast FAC,” recalled Ed Steeves, who served as a chair of the FAC for many years and is currently a member-at-large. “Jakob, after many years of fighting, got the free fare for children travelling for sports and education. Jakob knew all there was to know about the finances of BC Ferries – in fact, he knew more about their finances than BC Ferries knew, which he demonstrated on numerous occasions. Jakob was a unique person and someone who will be sadly missed.”
Knaus’s work with the FAC was also acknowledged at its meeting Nov. 2, where current chair Diana Mumford credited him as one of the past-chairs who helped keep the pressure on BC Ferries to take the needs of commuters into account when setting schedules.
BC Ferries president and CEO Mark Collins remembered Knaus as someone who “held our feet to the fire.”
“There was nobody more zealous on the part of the community as Jakob,” Collins said. “One thing I always appreciated about Jakob is that he never let you miss a fact. He was a fact-based arguments guy, and that’s something that was very valuable for us. Jakob will be truly missed.”
Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons was often hearing from Knaus on the ferries and other local issues. “Jakob was a wonderful man who we miss already. He was always sound in his advice, which he shared in a most helpful way. His attention to detail, and his credibility when advocating on BC Ferries issues, kept the company on its toes,” Simons said.
Knaus’s family – wife Marlis, daughter Sylvia, and sons Patrick and Juerg – have arranged a memorial service for Dec. 8 at 11 a.m. at the Devlin Funeral Home in Gibsons.
