Frank West, who helped establish the Sunshine Coast Regional District in 1966 in order to deliver proper water and garbage services to the Coast, serves as a timely reminder about priorities. The SCRD held its first board meeting on Jan. 12, 1967 with appointees from the rural areas, Gibsons and Sechelt. Mr. Gooding was appointed secretary treasurer with a salary of $700 per month. The first election for directors was held on Dec. 9, 1967 (the Sunshine Coast population at that time was 8,290) and Frank began several terms serving as the Area E director.
When the Sechelt Indian Band became a third level of government under the Sechelt Indian Band Self Government Act in 1986, a Sechelt Indian Government representative joined the SCRD Board.
Frank was busy; when the family lived at Port Mellon, in addition to being head accountant and manager at the mill, he was active on the Port Mellon Church Board, helped found the Port Mellon Credit Union and administered the Howe Sound Charity Fund. After moving to Area E, Frank was instrumental in getting a hospital built in Sechelt, and while serving as a director in the newly formed SCRD, became vice chairman of the provincial Municipal Finance Authority.
Frank’s wife Maryanne West was also active – she ran a science club at Gibsons school and oversaw the weather observation station. Maryanne became involved in CBC programming and wrote for Peninsula Times and Coast News. For their amazing service, the Wests received Couple of the Year award in 1991 from the Gibsons and District Chamber of Commerce. After taking Marta McCowan’s class in community television, Maryanne became a key volunteer and the television studio at Elphinstone Secondary is named in her honour. Maryanne died in 2008, two years after Frank’s passing.
The Frank West Hall, a popular community meeting space which also houses the Cliff Mahlman Firehall, was dedicated in his honour in 1993. The park there is named after Maryanne. Neither of them expected recognition; they contributed selflessly to our community without expecting any personal benefit. It’s fitting to celebrate these two who were committed to true community service.
Thank you for the feedback; it seems people in Elphinstone are happy to have a voice! Lorraine Goddard, a former mayor of Gibsons, knew quite a few in the photograph of the regional board from last week’s column and was able to fill in these: “Seated on the left (of Frank West) is Norm Watson, Village of Sechelt. Standing from the left: John McNevin, Area F, Barry Pearson, Area C, next unknown, centre is Ann Presley, secretary treasurer, next is the director from Area D, Peter Homberg, then Jim Metzler, Village of Gibsons, and the last face is familiar but I cannot come up with his name.” Many thanks, Lorraine.
Next column I have items passed along by readers; contact me at [email protected] before 5 p.m. on Sunday if you have Elphinstone news to report.
