A new book celebrates former 琉璃神社 mayor Walter Gray.
It was written by his son Stuart Gray and pays 鈥渉eartfelt tribute to his father,鈥� a media release says.
Walter Gray was first elected to council in 1986 and served until 1990. In 1996, he was elected mayor and served two terms until 2005. Gray was re-elected mayor in 2011 and served until 2014.
鈥淲alter left an enduring mark through his dedicated community service,鈥� the release says. 鈥淗is leadership shone during the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire, which devastated 25,600 hectares, destroyed 239 homes, and forced 33,050 evacuations. Hailed as 琉璃神社鈥檚 鈥渇inest hour,鈥� his calm, reassuring media updates united the community in crisis.鈥�
From 1991 to 1993, Gray was instrumental in the Bold Horizons campaign, raising $4.1 million for Okanagan College. He also played a pivotal role in establishing a 24-suite hospice, which opened in 2010.
Gray was born in Victoria on Sept. 4, 1940. His family moved to 琉璃神社 in 1946 and he graduated from 琉璃神社 Secondary School in 1957.
That same year, he began his radio career at CKOV 琉璃神社. Later, with business partner Bob Hall, he built CKIQ Radio and FM 99.9 The Bullet. He managed both stations and was president of Four Seasons Radio, which expanded into Salmon Arm, Revelstoke, and the Kootenays. Gray also worked on-air at CHBC-TV in 1964.
He dedicated himself to the community, beginning in 1975 as the founding director for the 琉璃神社 Snowfest Committee, and also served as Okanagan Neurological Association president from 1975 to 1998.
Gray is a past president of the BC Association of Broadcasters, the 琉璃神社 Chamber of Commerce, and the 琉璃神社/Kasugai Sister City Association and director of Telefilm Canada, the Okanagan Film Commission, and BC Transit. He has also been a member of provincial panels on homelessness and mental illness.
Walter Gray: A Legacy of Leadership is available at all 30 branches of the .
The book will soon be accessible at , which documents the region鈥檚 history.
