A piece of Princeton含羞草研究社檚 history and heart left the community Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.
Frank Armitage, former mayor, died after a brief illness, as the flag at municipal hall was lowered in his memory.
含羞草研究社淔rank was one of a kind. Quick to shake hands and tell a story, always with his trademark sparkle in his eye,含羞草研究社� reflected Dan Albas, MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.
含羞草研究社淗e was constantly charming people to come live and invest in Princeton, for its natural beauty and lifestyle.
含羞草研究社淗e was a huge booster for mining and for its benefits. He was very proud to expand Princeton含羞草研究社檚 borders to make Copper Mountain Mine literally part of Princeton. I will miss his smile, his wit and hospitality.含羞草研究社�
Town councillor Randy McLean, also a former mayor, had much praise for his close friend and colleague.
含羞草研究社淎s far as I含羞草研究社檓 concerned you look up the word 含羞草研究社榞entleman含羞草研究社� in the dictionary and there should be a picture of Frank含羞草研究社e was very, very classy.含羞草研究社�
The two met in their school days, and in recent years met twice every day for coffee, at McLean含羞草研究社檚 establishment Billy含羞草研究社檚 Restaurant.
含羞草研究社淲e spent a lot of time swapping stories and just exchanging experiences and talking about the approach to municipal government and how the town was doing and what we thought we could do to help.含羞草研究社�
Armitage, who first served as a town councillor, was mayor for two-and-a-half terms, from 2012 to 2018, and McLean admired his contributions.
During his last term, Armitage oversaw the relocation of the visitors含羞草研究社� centre, significant renovations at town hall, the improvement to local parks including the building of the dog park, and airport improvements.
He also spent two years pursuing a municipal boundary expansion to make Copper Mountain Mine part of the community, resulting in a $350,000 annual diversion of tax revenue from Victoria to Princeton.
Legion chaplain Sandra Lawlor counted Armitage as a friend of both veterans and first responders.
含羞草研究社淲hether the occasion was our Legion含羞草研究社檚 Remembrance Day community luncheon, veterans luncheon or the first responders appreciation dinner, Frank was always sincerely expressive of his thanks and gratitude of those who serve and have served.
含羞草研究社淲hen I would introduce Frank to offer his words of appreciation at the (first responders dinner), I would say, 含羞草研究社楢nd now a few short words from our mayor, Frank Armitage含羞草研究社� and the two of us would look at each other and laugh because we both knew that there was going to be nothing 含羞草研究社榮hort含羞草研究社� about it. Frank did have a way with words but also a great sense of humour and quick wit.含羞草研究社�
Mayor Spencer Coyne said Armitage含羞草研究社檚 impact on Princeton will be long remembered.
含羞草研究社淔rank wasn含羞草研究社檛 just the former mayor but a friend. His dedication to the community, leadership and commitment to making our town a better place have left an enduring legacy.
含羞草研究社淔rank always had time for a coffee and a story. He will be truly missed by all who knew him.含羞草研究社�
Raised in Princeton, Armitage spent his working life in towns across Canada as a human resource specialist in the mining industry. 含羞草研究社淲hile my career took me away for a number of years we always maintained a home here含羞草研究社e came home in 2001 and I was pleased, after retiring, to join Copper Mountain Mine where I spent four-and-a-half years in human resources,含羞草研究社� he told the Spotlight in a 2016 interview.
He and his wife Darnella 含羞草研究社� whom he frequently referred to as 含羞草研究社渢he best thing that every happened含羞草研究社� to him 含羞草研究社� raised three children. The many accomplishments of his offspring, and their offspring, were one of his favourite topics of conversation were he met at a Princeton Posse game (he almost never missed one) a turkey supper, a kids含羞草研究社� swim meet or a fundraiser.
Armitage was barely out of Princeton Secondary School when Copper Mountain Mine, then owned by the Grandy Company, closed in 1957.
While he didn含羞草研究社檛 work for the mine at that time, he felt the pressure of the resulting economic decline. 含羞草研究社淩eally, I含羞草研究社檓 an example of a Princeton boy who had to leave when the mine closed.含羞草研究社�
Armitage eventually earned a university degree in human resources, and held senior positions at mines in B.C., Ontario and Newfoundland. Yet he always maintained Princeton was 含羞草研究社渢he best place in the world to live.含羞草研究社�
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:andrea.demeer@similkameenspotlight.com
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