.
Search
Email this articleE-mail this story  Discuss this articleWrite letter to editor  Discuss this articleOrder a classified ad

Hay River councillor dies after cancer battle

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (Feb 09/04) - Hay River Councillor Glen Smart died last week after a long battle with cancer.

The 51-year-old Smart, who served on council for three years, passed away Feb. 4.

A moment of silence in memory of Smart is planned for tonight's council meeting.

A long-time personal friend and fellow council member, Vern Tordoff says Smart will be missed.

Smart was hard-working and honest, Tordoff says, and someone who liked to help people in the community.

"Just a real good guy," Tordoff says.

That opinion of Smart is echoed by Mayor Diana Ehman.

"He was a good, kind man," Ehman says.

"He was a good friend and a good colleague. We'll miss him very much."

Smart had surgery to remove a brain tumour in late 2002. He returned to council after the operation. He was re-elected in October of last year. While on council, he served as chair of the utilities committee and was liaison to the Territorial Farmers Association and residents in the Corridor area.

Smart was also president of the Hay River Golf Club and a member of the Rusty Blades oldtimers hockey team.

Born and raised in Toronto, Smart moved to Hay River in 1981.

He and his wife, Sandra Lester, operated a bakery in the community for about 20 years before it was sold last year.

A funeral service was held in Hay River on Friday.

With the death of one of its members, Hay River council can choose to appoint a new councillor, call a by-election or leave the position vacant.