Hundreds of people paid their respects to the late Chuck Strahl on Friday, a reputable and much-loved former Chilliwack MP. Strahl died on Aug. 13 after a , a type of cancer.
He was 67. Current and former federal, provincial, and municipal politicians, along with family, friends and the public gathered at Chilliwack Alliance Church for his memorial on Aug. 23.
Strahl was born on Feb. 25, 1957 in New Westminster, and grew up in a logging family. He first became a public official in 1993, and served Chilliwack and the surrounding area for 18 years.
Rev. Matthew Mordaunt said he was a man who was "filled with fantastic stories, humour, integrity and wisdom." Others spoke just as highly of the late politician, including leader of the former Reform Party of Canada, Preston Manning who delivered Strahl's eulogy.
What has been remarked on many times following Strahl's passing was the "positive and cheerful attitude that he invariably brought to every situation and every conversation," Manning said. "Chuck was a funny guy. He had an irrepressible and contagious sense of humour which he expressed in many different ways on many different occasions.
" Manning recalled a time in Quebec when he and Strahl were given a tour of the area. The host took particular pride in showing them a small grove of large trees behind a wrought iron fence. "She proudly explained that these were some of the oldest trees in Canada," Manning said.
"But when Chuck saw those trees his eyes lit up, his arms and h.