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By Corey Fischer
Former politician, lawyer Passes away

Former politician, lawyer passes away

May 22, 2019 | 10:00 AM

A former Coldstream councillor and local lawyer has passed away.

Bill Firman was on District council for two terms from 2005 to 2011.

“It’s no secret when I was there for a couple of terms that I was concerned about pollution of Coldstream Creek and Kal Lake. And I did everything I could to (push) for that position, and I just want to reinforce it,” Firman told Beach Radio News in an interview last September.

Firman, one of the more colourful characters in local politics, also ran for mayor against Jim Garlick in last October’s election, saying despite considering Garlick his friend, he didn’t want to see him win by acclamation.

“I disapprove of that. I disapproved of it the last time. There has got to be competition for the mayor’s position. I don’t have any axe to grind with Garlick — like I said, he’s a friend of mine — but this is politics eh?” said Firman.

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Firman practiced law for more than 40 years in Vancouver, Prince George and Vernon, retiring in 2015, and resided at his home on Coldstream Creek Road.

Firman was born and raised in the Coldstream Valley, and was the first in his family to attend pot secondary school, graduating from UBC in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science, later going on to study law and was called to the bar in 1971.

Firman was 76 years old.

Photo courtesy of Kamloops Daily News

by Corey Fischer

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