‘It came out of the blue’: Friends, colleagues remember former councillor Dieter Dudy

Word about Dudy’s passing began to spread slowly over the weekend, and tributes from friends, colleagues past and present, local businesses and others began to pour in on social media on Tuesday.

“We are grateful for the ways Dieter contributed to the Kamloops business and farming community,” the Kamloops and District Chamber of Commerce said. “He will be remembered fondly and greatly missed.”

“Dieter served our organization with distinction as the current Vice President of the Board of Directors and previously as Board President, providing thoughtful leadership, sound judgment, and a deep commitment to our community,” added Community Futures Thompson Country. “His dedication to community and public service leaves a lasting legacy, and he will be greatly missed.”

A Kamloops resident for nearly 40 years, Dudy owned and operated Thistle Farm in Westsyde, and most Kamloopsians got to know him on market days Wednesday and Saturday.

“He kind of held court there,” Pejril added. “He had that way about him. He was very methodical. He always had a smile on his face. He was so personable.”

“It’s a big shock,” Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar told CFJC Today. “I talked to some people that were seeing him at the market on Saturday (Sept. 5) and to find out how quickly he passed… a big surprise and a huge blow to the community.”

“He was such a passionate person about Kamloops and a real figure in the broader community.”

Wednesday’s farmers market will proceed as usual, but the space occupied by Thistle Farm (stalls 16 to 18) will remain vacant. The Kamloops Regional Farmer’s Market Society told CFJC it will have more to say after Dudy’s daughter releases a statement “out of respect to the family.”

In its statement, the Kamloops Food Bank called Dudy “a remarkable community supporter,” saying his generosity and kindness made a lasting difference in the lives of many people.

“Over the years, he donated tens of thousands of pounds of fresh produce to the Kamloops Food Bank, helping ensure that some of the most vulnerable members of our community had access to healthy, nutritious food,” the Kamloops Food Bank said.

“He was a true friend of the Kamloops Food Bank and someone who genuinely believed in giving back and taking care of his community.”

Dudy entered the Kamloops political scene in 2011 and nearly pulled off an upset, as he came within 235 votes of unseating Milobar as mayor of Kamloops. Dudy went on to serve two terms as a city councillor, and lost his second bid to become mayor in 2022 to incumbent Reid Hamer-Jackson.

Milobar said he first met Dudy during that 2011 election campaign and the two became fast friends, and later colleagues.

“We both said, ‘Geez, now that we know each other, you seem like a guy you’d want to have a beer with,'” Milobar recalled. “As it turned out, we would share many a time having a beer, talking about things going on.”

“He came on council in 2014 and we became good friends and colleagues and that continued on literally up to his passing.”

While the circumstances around Dudy’s passing aren’t known at this time, flags at Kamloops City Hall and the TNRD building have been lowered to half staff in his honour.

“Dieter will be remembered for his steady and principled approach to civic leadership, his respect for differing perspectives and his deep commitment to the community he served,” the City of Kamloops said in a statement.

“His contributions to council and to community life will leave a lasting legacy in Kamloops.”

“Dieter served with a measured and thoughtful approach to leadership of his constituents, and he was a friend and mentor to many colleagues on the Board of Directors,” the TNRD added.

“His thoughtful leadership, sound judgment and a deep commitment to his community have had a positive and lasting benefit to the entire Thompson-Nicola region.”

Pejril told CFJC he’ll miss his conversations about politics with Dudy the most.

“Because we’re so close in our beliefs, we kind of fed off each other a little bit,” Pejril said. “He was a dreamer. He was very supportive of the sports scene in Kamloops and the arts scene, and he really pushed and worked hard making the city better.”

“It’s a loss to the community,” Milobar added. “Dieter certainly was on the front edge of the whole organic farming movement in Kamloops. He was a great community supporter all around, making sure any extra produce was being used for those less fortunate in our community.”

“It just speaks to the type of person he really was – a down to earth, genuine person.”

Dieter Dudy was 71.

by Victor Kaisar

‘It came out of the blue’: Friends, colleagues remember former councillor Dieter Dudy

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