A former Vernon mayor and MLA is being remembered for his political and community contributions.
Lyall Hanson died Monday at age 88 following a lengthy illness.
Hanson was mayor of Vernon from 1982 to 1986, before becoming the Social Credit and Reform Party MLA for the North Okanagan from 1986 to 1996.
Hanson also served in Bill Vanderzalm’s cabinet as Minister of Labour and for Municipal Affairs.
Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster knew Hanson well.
“Lyall, the best way to put it, was a larger than life character for me. He was a mentor of mine for sure. I sat on his Social Credit executive. I worked on his campaigns,” Foster tells Beach Radio News.
Foster paid tribute to Hanson in the BC Legislature this week, and calls him a true gentleman.
“He was one of these fellows who went about his job quietly. He had strong political beliefs and views, and he was loyal to them all,” adds Foster.
Wayne McGrath was mayor of Vernon during part of Hanson’s time as an MLA.
“He was not like his boss — Bill Vanderzalm. He was not flamboyant. He went about his work in a quiet, but nonetheless, effective manner,” McGrath tells Beach Radio News.
“Whenever you met him, he was always very thoughtful in the comments he would make. He was a person I certainly respected,” adds McGrath.
Before getting into politics, Hanson ran an auto dealership in Vernon.
