The winds of change blew up and down the Sunshine Coast last Saturday night as Coast residents made their voices heard during the municipal election.
The biggest change saw four-term incumbent mayor Barry Janyk defeated at the hands of Wayne Rowe. After more than a decade on council and in the mayor's chair, Janyk is out of politics, but his service and dedication to the community will not be forgotten. For proof of that, one only had to look at the residents who packed into municipal hall Tuesday night for his final council meeting. Janyk was given a standing ovation by the current council and gallery when Coun. LeeAnn Johnson handed him his gavel as a parting gift.
We might not have always agreed with Janyk on his decisions, but we respect him for his work and tireless efforts on behalf of the community.
The same can be said for Sechelt's outgoing mayor Darren Inkster, who lost his job to John Henderson. Inkster served one term as mayor, and was on council for 12 years. Despite the challenges of this term, and many controversial decisions by the council, Inkster will be remembered for many accomplishments. His dedication to the position cannot be denied. We wish both men and their families well as they open new chapters in their lives.
We also give thanks to the other incumbents for their many hours of dedicated service to our communities - Bob Curry in Gibsons, Warren Allan, Alice Janisch and Keith Thirkell in Sechelt, school board trustees Jason Scott and Fran Heppell, plus regional district director Eric Graham and Sechelt councillors Ann Kershaw and Fred Taylor, who did not seek re-election.
This election was heated and challenging. Candidates and their supporters had much to say. Some remarks were nasty and the attacks personal, but politics has not always been easy and honest.
Ill-will aside, the election process got people engaged and talking, and that translated into a fantastic voter turnout, with Gibsons seeing 57 per cent of residents come to the polls - a total that is among the highest in the province. Sechelt also saw a huge increase from the last election, with 43 per cent casting a vote. The residents of the Sunshine Coast can be proud for exercising their right to choose, and while some are disappointed in the changes at our government tables, change is not necessarily a bad thing.
It will be up to the new government leaders and also the residents of the Coast to come together and work that much harder to continue to see the Coast move forward in a sustainable, progressive fashion. We see the changes as a good thing. It's a chance for a fresh look - for some new ideas and new blood.
We look forward to working with the new governments and seeing what can be accomplished.
