KAMLOOPS — 2018 will bring a big change around the Kamloops council table.
Councillor Pat Wallace has confirmed she will not let her name stand for re-election in the November municipal vote.
Wallace was first elected to Kamloops council in 1980.
She served until 1986 when she made a failed bid for the mayor’s chair.
Wallace made her return to council in 1993, and was re-elected seven times after that.
The long-serving councillor suffered a fall in March of 2016, and has dealt with the impacts of her injuries ever since.
She says that made her decision to retire from public life a little more clear.
“I travel with a lot of pain in my neck. It’s almost constant. If I take a pain pill, which I can’t do when I drive, or if I put on a neck brace, it helps. But (the injury) certainly makes life a little more unpleasant,” said Wallace.
“It’s been a big part (of my life). I’m in my 31st year and it’s been a wonderful life. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and I’ll certainly regret leaving it.”
While she has been the elder stateswoman at Kamloops City Hall in recent years, she says she hopes voters don’t discount candidates with a lot of life experience in upcoming elections.
“I think we need one or two older voices around always. Wisdom and experience contributes. But we also need the young folk that have good agendas and have an interest in serving the public because that’s what this job is really all about.”
Wallace says she is looking forward to spending more time with family, but otherwise, she’s not sure what post-council life will hold for her.
“It looks pretty quiet right now. But I have three sons, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren, so I think I’ll be welcome to travel to their houses and babysit and enjoy life as a retiree.”
