James Moore? Richard Stewart? Important people in the Tri-Cities, undoubtedly.
And I suppose I could go with MP Fin Donnelly and MLA Mike Farnworth as my important Tri-City people but surely there's more to being important than political profile and celebrity.
Instead, how about these important local people?
Tom Grant, superintendent of School District 43 (don't worry, there's not a public education rant coming). Mr. Grant is in charge of 30,000 students and 3,500 employees in the Tri-Cities' public schools. He doesn't teach them, and he spends a lot of time fighting non-classroom battles but almost all Tri-City moms and dads send little Sally or Billy straight from their cereal to his care every day, and he is ultimately responsible for the conditions of their schooling. It doesn't get more important than that.
Elaine Golds: local ecological advocate and the de facto leader of Tri-City environmentalists (and The Tri-City News' Green Scene columnist). Besides being a longtime Burrard Thermal plant environmental watchdog, the Port Moody resident was president of the Port Moody Ecological Society that nurtured salmon enhancement projects and established a wetland at Shoreline Park - just try to harm a red-legged frog with her around. Ms. Golds' calm but unwavering advocacy coupled with her academic credentials make her causes difficult to oppose. She gives us full-time, local environmental advocacy without pay - altruistic, appreciated and very important.
Ted and Wayne...
Ted Bordeleau has been kibitzing and commiserating with patrons of his Burquitlam Plaza barber shop for 45 years. He and Wayne, his fellow shearer for more than 20 years, run a steady patter of conversation with patrons, who return just as much for the conversation as for the coif. Thirty minutes of cheerful talk on any subject. People from 20 to 80 years old, bikers and bankers, wait for haircuts and join the banter, with Ted and Wayne guiding the conversation.
Forty heads per day, over two decades - you do the math. It's a staggering number of low-cost therapy sessions in the chairs of Ted and Wayne, Burquitlam's barbershop philosophers.
Government and politicians are important, and I'm no anti-government type, but important local people aren't necessarily politicians or celebrities.
