PRINCE GEORGE – It was an emotional Shirley Bond who addressed 100-plus faithful at the Coast Inn Tuesday, thanking everyone for their support over the years.
Bond’s career in public service stems back to 1996, serving on the school board.
“And I literally was convinced to run for public office in a living room by several parents who said, ‘You can do this,'” she recounts. “And I, of course, was very reluctant. I couldn’t even think about putting my name on a ballot. But it really was a living room conversation with some people who said, we think that there is a place for you in public service.”
She held that position for three terms, the last of which was as chair of the Board. It was in 2001 that she waded into the provincial political fray, running for the BC Liberals.
“[Then-Premier] Gordon Campbell had come a number of times to talk to me about being part of his team. The first time he came, my kids were young and I felt that it wasn’t quite the right time. But he came back and he offered me a chance to make a difference when it came to provincial politics.”
She entered that political scene at the same time as Pat Bell. He recalls one campaign in particular that led the charge early on.
“I recall a dark, rainy evening in Victoria, and I think it was 10 o’clock at night. And we were sitting in Shirley’s office, which at the time was on the third floor of the Legislature. The rain pounding outside and we are wracking our brains because we could not get this thing over the finish line. We knew that Gordon Campbell was generally supportive, but we knew we had to give him enough evidence to move it forward.”
“It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.” Those were Bond’s words in 2004. And it really was. Shortly after that statement, then-Premier Gordon Campbell announced a commitment to build the BC Cancer Centre for the North.
“When people ask me, you know what matters most to me, I truly believe that making sure northern British Columbians did not have to leave this community for all of their cancer care is something I am deeply proud of. I’ve seen it change lives, says Bond.”
Bond headed up seven cabinet posts, including Interim leader.
“Her role as interim leader, I think, has to go down really as one of her most significant accomplishments, because in order to become the interim leader, you have to have the support of your Caucus colleagues. And that is difficult because there are lots of big egos. And, you know, everyone wants to be seen as the leader. And Shirley was, I think, a bit unwilling to take that on initially.”
She is also the only woman to hold the position of provincial Attorney General in Canadian political history.
Today, she says she wants more “grandma time.” But.
“I love this place too much to just sort of, you know, sit on the sidelines.”
So it’s doubtful this is the end of Shirley Bond.
