Dear Editor,

On Saturday morning I enjoyed the Langley City Town Hall Meeting, with interesting updates from Mayor Peter Fassbender, MLA Mary Polak, MP Mark Warawa, and our school board chair, Wendy Johnson, as well as hearing from so many involved citizens of our community.

But there was one individual not present on Saturday... and he was dearly missed.

Eric Bysouth is one person who never missed a town hall meeting, let alone Rotary Club or a Conservative Party meeting or any opportunity where he could give his pitch for high-speed rail to the Fraser Valley.

Eric was always there for our community. He helped keep McLeod Athletic Park, my home soccer and baseball field, from becoming a bus depot.

He was also a mentor for me as a young Conservative, and he and Helen, his lovely wife, attended many significant events in my life.

It was always a delight when he would visit the arts and crafts session at Harrison Landing retirement home, where I volunteered and where he and Helen lived.

As an elder statesman with a lifetime of experience, Eric was always ready to give wise council.

I am sad he will no longer be there when I seek him for advice, but I'm forever grateful for the investment he made in my life. Eric was a wonderful example of what it means to be a good husband, father, and caring citizen whose passionate commitment to his community caused him to speak out, get involved, and make a difference in so many of our lives.

He was and will continue to be an inspiration to us all. We'll miss Eric.

Lexi Vankevich, Langley