Citing many years of community service along with the desire to improve his golf game, Councillor Gord Turner has decided to let his involvement with Castlegar City Council end with the current term.
Gord Turner has more plans for his time than what he can put in on the golf links… gardening and travel are two of them, as he told the Castlegar News on September 25.
He said he also wants to continue with his bi-weekly column in this newspaper.
Gord enjoyed a 32-year career as a Selkirk College professor, retiring in 2012. He has arrived at the time in his life where some more adjusting is in order.
“I’ve been in politics now for 23 years, so I’m ready to retire,” he explained. “I’ve put in my time for the community, 14 years with city council and nine years with the school board.”
Turner fully accepts the growing limitations that show up along with advancing years and he wants to manage his energy for the things he wants to do. Looking back, he’s gratified by what’s been accomplished by council.
“I’m quite proud of some of the things we’ve done. It’s worked together really well. We all talk to one another, we all socializer together, we agree to disagree, we get on with it, and we have fun. It’s still fun at council, so I’d like to end at that point.”
A new city hall, the Chances Gaming Centre, Millennium Walkway and pools are some of the projects he listed in terms of achievement. He said he’s also happy with the relationship the city has built with the various local cultural groups.
“We get along with them and they’re all functioning very well,” he mentioned.
“And all the awards we’ve been getting, including Communities in Bloom. I wasn’t out there planting flowers, but I was at the various meetings, part of getting things okayed, and look what happened.”
Gord Turner is satisfied with his contributions over the years, confident about the immediate future of Castlegar, and eager to enjoy, with wife Alexia, full retirement and all the good things that come with it.