June 18, 2010
Saying goodbye to a Prince Rupert icon, friend and mentor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 18, 2010
Statement by Nathan Cullen honouring the late Mike Tarr
“As Member of Parliament for the Northwest, I often have the humbling honour of paying respect to some of the great leaders from our region. Today I write about someone who exemplified what our community is about, was a true ally to all who wished to build up Prince Rupert and the whole northwest, and someone whom I was fortunate to count as a real friend.
Mike Tarr was born here in Prince Rupert and after some time away being educated and expanding his horizons, he returned to serve his community tirelessly. Whether serving on the local library board or sitting as board chair of both the BC and Canadian Credit Union associations, Mike was consistent in his respect for people and always welcoming of other points of view.
Whenever I brought a new initiative to Mike, the Young Entrepreneurs Award or the Create Your Canada contest, he would immediately understand our goals and help make the ideas real for his community. True leadership looks to a better future while working hard each and every day to that goal. We could have used a dozen more Mike Tarrs in our community and the loss of just one will be felt across the whole region.
It is an honour, but one I don’t relish, to write these words in memory of Mike. I can’t imagine Prince Rupert without him and I know his friends, family and colleagues are still in a state of shock at his sudden passing. It is a time to reflect, remember and think fondly of the contribution Mike made to all of our lives and I will be one of those grieving the loss of a friend, mentor and leader in every sense of the word.”
Nathan
EDITOR’S NOTE: Mike Tarr, 68, died unexpectedly of heart failure on June 10 in Prince Rupert hospital.
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For more information, please contact:
Shelley Browne, Office of Nathan Cullen, 250-877-4140; cullen1@parl.gc.ca
