Former Sechelt councillor and well-known local photographer Keith Thirkell has died.
Thirkell’s family said he died Aug. 18 as a result of injuries suffered from an accident in July while assisting a friend in medical distress. He was 57.
Thirkell moved to the Sunshine Coast about 30 years ago and worked as a photojournalist, landscape photographer and self-described “jack of all trades.”
His images of the Sunshine Coast, collected in his annual Sunshine Coast Scenic Calendar, were seen all over the world and several were also featured in Harbour Publishing founder Howard White’s “The Sunshine Coast.” Thirkell was also called on frequently to photograph major news events on the Sunshine Coast for national papers.
According to his family, Thirkell “was most proud of serving his community of Sechelt for two terms as councillor.”
He was first elected in 2005, and the re-elected in 2008 when he was the top vote-getter in the field of council candidates. Thirkell also ran unsuccessfully for a council seat in 2011 and 2014.
Darren Inkster, who served on council with Thirkell in his first term and was mayor during his second, told Coast Reporter that Thirkell was a dedicated advocate of ecological issues and for arts and culture.
“Keith cared deeply for our planet and our West Coast eco-systems. He was a Sunshine Coast arts and culture champion – many of our local arts and culture legacies have a direct link to the hard work of Keith and former Coun. Ann Kershaw,” Inkster said.
“Keith’s dedication to those causes, his thoughtfulness, his historical local knowledge and his sense of humour will be dearly missed.”
