Not long after he became mayor of View Royal in 2002, Graham Hill had occasion to attend a volunteer firefighters association banquet.
Upon being introduced, the fledgling politician was booed, a reaction to the municipalityB次元官网网址檚 moves to change the way the fire department operated. Hill was shocked at the reaction, but recognized he had a steep learning curve to understand the culture of the town and its various enclaves.
B次元官网网址淲e had made a statement of what View Royal was going to be by investing in equipment and training,B次元官网网址� the soon-to-be B次元官网网址渞etiredB次元官网网址� mayor recalled during a sit-down interview inside a busy Four Mile restaurant.
Plans to move what was then perceived as a club-like volunteer department toward one with a more professional feel was not well received at the time.
How times change.
When Hill and partner Gery Lemon attended the annual banquet of the same organization earlier this fall, the mayor was made an honourary lifetime member of the department and given his own firefighterB次元官网网址檚 helmet.
The departmentB次元官网网址檚 current fire inspector, Lt. Robert Marshall, wasnB次元官网网址檛 at the original gathering, but has been around the department almost as long as Hill has been mayor. Marshall said the mayor has been B次元官网网址渁n outstanding supporter of this organization,B次元官网网址� not least of which was through the public information sessions and subsequent referendum for the new public safety building.
B次元官网网址淔or me, what we see when you look at his support; yes, he has his support on the political side, and dealing with the chief, but he also supports the guys on the ground level. He still comes by for a coffee and a chat. He kind of touched the organization on all levels.B次元官网网址�
Speaking to firefighters is one thing, but speaking to regional public bodies and residents with deep concern over their way of life is quite another.
Hill, a retired longtime federal civil servant who specialized in IT, said he B次元官网网址渇ound my voiceB次元官网网址� going door-to-door and talking to residents about their concerns and interests.
B次元官网网址淵ou had to find the common ground, find a common interest to make that connection,B次元官网网址� he said.
The affable mayor became known for stopping council meetings to explain what was happening for people in attendance, or introducing himself and council newcomers to the chamber whom he didnB次元官网网址檛 know personally, almost as if trying to extend the View Royal family.
Unlike most politicians, Hill would address his audiences with few if any speaking points, having done hours of research ahead of time to prepare. That way, he could speak more from his heart than his head.
Over the years, heB次元官网网址檚 had to sit and listen to residents and take his lumps, as it were, from people who may have felt council wasnB次元官网网址檛 listening to them.
During discussions around the ill-fated Thetis Cove development and planning zone, he heard outcries from neighbours that it would ruin their quality of life and was ill-suited for the site.
Thetis Cove resident Garth Graham is among the constituents who went back-and-forth with Hill during that time. While they may have agreed to disagree on certain aspects of the development plan, Graham said, the end result B次元官网网址渨as better than what we faced when the developer laid the plans out on someoneB次元官网网址檚 kitchen table.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e appreciated the role (Hill) has played in that respect. HeB次元官网网址檚 represented the political process as a kind of B次元官网网址榓rt of the possible,B次元官网网址� as something where he enjoys the give and take and acts honourably within it,B次元官网网址� Graham said. B次元官网网址淗e represented a kind of commitment to public service B次元官网网址� that seems to be disappearing from politics on so many different fronts.B次元官网网址�
Hill is against amalgamation, especially as it relates to his municipality. He pointed to the automatic mutual aid agreement View Royal has with the Colwood Fire Department, and the effective contracting out of certain municipal services as ways the town is able to operate successfully through partnerships.
Despite the buzz generated around putting amalgamation-related questions on the upcoming municipal ballots, he said the public still has very little information about what it would mean to their specific municipalities. B次元官网网址淭he only way it can work is if itB次元官网网址檚 common sense, saves money and it makes things better,B次元官网网址� Hill said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to ask the B次元官网网址榳hyB次元官网网址� question.B次元官网网址�
HeB次元官网网址檚 glad View Royal has fought against any widening or twinning of the Island Highway through the heart of the municipality. He noted that he never wanted to see View Royal divided by the highway, as has happened in Langford.
Hill remains passionate about the Island Corridor Foundation, a multi-regional organization he co-founded in 2003, with the idea that the former E&N railway corridor could play an integral transportation role in the future growth of the Island.
He sees View Royal as a B次元官网网址減inch point of transportationB次元官网网址� for the Capital Region B次元官网网址� its roads carry the glut of vehicle traffic during morning and afternoon commutes between the West Shore and the core municipalities. He views the E&N rail right of way as a key piece of the puzzle in reducing the carbon footprint of traffic in the region.
Asked whether heB次元官网网址檒l miss the challenge of guiding the municipalityB次元官网网址檚 progress with the help of residents and staff, and acting for the town on CRD business heB次元官网网址檚 of two minds. B次元官网网址淚 will miss the intellectual challenge, IB次元官网网址檒l miss the opportunity to engage with people who IB次元官网网址檝e come to deeply respect.B次元官网网址�
On the other hand, he hopes to spend more time with family: between he and Lemon, there are five children in the picture and 11 grandchildren.
Lemon, whoB次元官网网址檚 been with Hill 24 years, said being mayor was never an aspiration of his. SheB次元官网网址檚 seen him grow into the job.
B次元官网网址淲ow, what a talent. He is a quality, quality mayor,B次元官网网址� she said, B次元官网网址渂ecause heB次元官网网址檚 taken it on wholeheartedly, heB次元官网网址檚 taken it on so completely.B次元官网网址�
The mayorB次元官网网址檚 standing across the region was evident at a recent surprise sendoff at the Inn at Laurel Point, when politicians and people from various organizations Hill touched over the years joined in an outpouring of respect and admiration.
Hill and Lemon plan to head up to their cabin and property on the Sunshine Coast to relax for a bit and think about their interests moving forward.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
Fast fact
B次元官网网址� In the 12 years that Graham Hill has been mayor of View Royal, the townB次元官网网址檚 population has grown from about 5,200 to more than 10,000.
