Island mayor dies suddenly

Jude Schooner has died, just days after announcing she was stepping down as mayor of Tahsis because of ongoing health issues resulting from a motor vehicle accident in March 2017.

Nova Scotia-born Schooner died of cardiac arrest at home on Friday night.

“She was so well loved and respected at our council table,” Coun. Brenda Overton said. “Our entire community is devastated.”

Schooner’s popularity is evident on the community’s Facebook page, where citizens described her as warm, nurturing, strong, kind and respectful.

Her personal Facebook page states that she attended Oak Bay Secondary School and the University of Victoria.

On Friday morning, Schooner posted a photo of an arrangement of flowers, saying: “My heartfelt thanks to the Village of Tahsis council and our remarkable staff for this celebration of my 65th birthday.”

Schooner and husband Scott arrived in Tahsis on their sailboat about 18 years ago, seeking shelter from winter’s rough weather and looking for work. The village is at the head of Tahsis Inlet, which is part of Nootka Sound.

They decided to settle in the former mill town on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, and founded Tahtsa Dive Charters and Shorebird Expeditions more than a decade ago.

Like many former mill towns in B.C., Tahsis has seen its population decline over the years. Schooner was an ardent booster of its efforts to lure retired people and tourists. In a 2015 interview, she lauded its low real estate prices and easy access to spectacular wilderness.

“We’re the tomorrow of British Columbia,” she said.

Flags at the Cenotaph and the fire hall have been lowered to half-mast.

Council will pay tribute to her at a meeting, said an announcement from the village.

Schooner was first elected to council in 2008 and has served as a director on the Strathcona Regional District.

She served two terms as mayor in the community of 248. In 2014, she was elected mayor with 66 votes, beating three rivals.

“She leaves a legacy of building enduring relationships with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, forest companies, the provincial government, other local governments and a myriad of stakeholders,” the statement from the village said.

“She promoted healthy respectful dialogue on forest practices, corporate responsibility, transportation, community planning, and rural health care, amongst many other issues.”

Schooner announced on Feb. 5 that she planned to step down on April 17.

“This decision was one of the most gutwrenching decisions I have ever made,” she said.

“Serving the village has given me a wonderful education and has provided an opportunity to advocate for the community as their representative.

I am very thankful for the support and mentoring I have received.”

She said it was a privilege to sit on council. Schooner and council had fought for improvements to Head Bay Road, which serves Tahsis. B.C.’s ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has issued a tender for road work, which will be carried out this summer.

Deputy Randy Taylor will serve as acting mayor until the Oct. 20 municipal elections.