Blame it on Trudeau.
Long-time Fraser-Fort George Regional District director Bob Headrick died Sunday. He stayed true to both his political beliefs and his sense of humour to the very end.
"Weary of reading obituaries noting someone's courageous battle with death, Bob wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctor's orders, and the recent election of the Liberal party to the Canadian government," Headrick's obituary in Thursday's Citizen states.
"Quite a character, quite a character, that's Bob to the end," said FFGRD chair Art Kaehn.
For those who knew him, Headrick will be hard to forget. He'll be remembered both for his bombast and ability to make people laugh, and for a legacy of achievements he delivered during the 30 years he represented Electoral Area D (Tabor Lake-Stone Creek).
Headrick once said he was "turning right" and going to Alberta for vacation because he was getting a little too left wing.
On another occasion, when a meeting was getting slow, he went out into the lobby to have a few beers with some volunteer firefighters who had shown up.
One of his favourite phrases whenever funding to build or upgrade a sewage system was secured was that the community to benefit will soon be able to "start flushin' without blushin'."
Headrick did much more than keeping the mood light.
"I think the thing that really comes to mind is that he was a director and a person who really stuck by his guns and principles no matter what it was, through thick and thin," Kaehn said.
Prime among them was putting the taxpayer front and centre.
"The bottom line was always the taxpayer. And those services he provided the leadership in helping introduce to the regional district were to serve the residents better and more effectively and for no other reason," Kaehn said.
Headrick chaired the board for eight years in the 1990s. It was an often tumultuous time.
The provincial government mandated that all regional districts take on a solid waste management program.
The $48-million price tag created plenty of tension with Victoria, but Headrick "made sure we got the biggest bang for our buck."
Headrick also drew a line when it came to a $50-million upgrade of what was then the Prince George Regional Hospital.
"He stared down the Ministry of Health and said we're not going to contribute any more than $20 million and the redevelopment of the project came in on time and on budget," Kaehn said.
And thanks to Headrick, the FFGRD is the only regional district in the province that makes decisions on non-farm use and subdivisions for land within the Agricultural Land Reserve. Elsewhere in the province, that's still done by the Agricultural Land Commission.
Headrick delivered for his electoral area, whether it be the Pineview Community Hall and daycare, added ball diamonds at Malcolm McLeod Memorial Park or restoration of Tabor Lake after a major fish kill.
Headrick was known as a big supporter of the volunteer fire departments. One of his last acts as a director was to get a backup water tanker for departments across the whole electoral area.
"When you look back it was pretty amazing the things that he was involved in and saw through during his time," Kaehn said.
Headrick, who was a barber by profession, stepped away from the regional district in November 2011. At his last meeting, he received a standing ovation from colleagues.
It's not clear how old Headrick was.
No birth date was provided in the obituary and his wife could not be reached on Thursday, but it's believed he was in his 80s.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday at the First Baptist Church on Gillett St., starting at 1:30 p.m.
"Not to worry friends, the kids have alcohol and food at the house on Stewart Road for those who wish to drop in later that evening," Headrick's obituary adds.
