Further to yesterdays Obit, this write up & a large photo appeared in today's publication of the Victoria Times Colonist Author Lindsay KINES Times Colonist A long life dedicated to serving the public <javascript:;><javascript:;> For most people, retirement is a time to wind down, kick back and take things a bit slower. But Maurice Chazottes was just getting started when, in 1985, he stepped back from a long and varied career as a journalist, civil servant and B.C.’s first chief of Hansard. Chazottes, who died from kidney disease on Jan. 2 at the age of 89, had immediately moved into municipal politics, sitting on North Saanich council and serving one three-year term as mayor. “He was always a gentleman, which people might think is a normal thing to say,” said former Saanich mayor Frank Leonard. “But, actually, it’s not so true in politics. “He wasn’t really a politician; he was an effective leader and mayor, but he wasn’t getting his elbows up trying to get his way.” Linda Michaluk, who was mayor of North Saanich when Chazottes served as a councillor, remembered him as someone committed to the community. “He felt it was important to be involved and, rather than, as many are wont to do, sit and complain, to actually get involved and get something done,” she said. “He was one who was quite happy to sit and chat and contemplate, but he felt that that needed to be followed up with action.” After Chazottes moved to Saanich, the municipality recruited him to serve on the police board and the B.C. Association of Police Boards. He also sat on the Greater Victoria Public Library board and chaired the Capital Regional District’s parks public advisory group.His work on that committee was considered instrumental in obtaining support for a regional parks land-acquisition fund that led to the protection of thousands of hectares. For that, Chazottes received an EcoStar Community Environmental Award, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for “outstanding contributions to the region through public service, most notably his work related to the protection of natural areas.”Daphne, his wife of 67 years, said his passion for the natural environment began in his native England, where he was a boy scout in his youth. Later, he became a scout leader in Ontario, where he and Daphne immigrated with their young family in 1957. “We’d go out as a family and hike along the Bruce Trail and Niagara Escarpment,” daughter Louise, recalled. “He always seemed to enjoy doing those things outside, even when we moved out here [to Victoria], we’d go out to different beaches and hike and that kind of thing.” Born in Harrogate, England, to French-speaking parents, Chazottes worked as a journalist for newspapers and magazines before immigrating to Canada. He was a senior editor at Maclean Hunter Ltd. and helped launch the Medical Post, a professional medical journal. After coming to Victoria in 1971, he became the first chief of Hansard, the official report of debates in the B.C. legislature, before moving on to other senior positions within government, including executive director of government information services. Chazottes told the Times Colonist in 1998 that he and Daphne moved to Victoria after falling in love with the city while on vacation. “The best thing we ever did was emigrate from England in 1957,” he said. “The second best thing was to move to Victoria.” Chazottes is survived by Daphne, his children, Delphine, Julian Paul and Louise, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A private gathering for friends and family will be held at a later date. No relation, passed for list info only......................... --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com