Freedom of the Municipality, the highest symbol of respect and esteem from a local government to an individual, was awarded today to Graham P. Bruce.
Mr. Bruce began his career as a school administrator in the Cowichan Valley before becoming Alderman for North Cowichan at age 24, and then as Canada’s youngest mayor in 1979. He championed North Cowichan’s first Official Community Plan, led efforts to preserve the Cowichan Estuary, and helped establish ecological reserves at Mt. Tzouhalem and Somenos Flats. He also served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1986 to 1991 and again from 2001 to 2005. He held key cabinet roles including Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Labour, and was House Leader. After his career in politics, Mr. Bruce led numerous organizations including the Island Corridor Foundation, and was a strong advocate for Indigenous and democratic initiatives.
“This is a tremendous honour to recognize Graham P. Bruce,” said Mayor Rob Douglas. “His strong leadership and sense of community is keenly evident in his many years of service in local and provincial politics, with important community organizations, and as an advocate for reconciliation make him a very worthy recipient of Freedom of the Municipality.”
Over North Cowichan’s 152 year history, 13 other individuals have been awarded Freedom of the Municipality:
- Charles Murison, 1973
- Reginald Clegg, 1973
- D.C. Morton, 1973
- Adolphe Vande Casteyen, 1975
- Margaret Robertson, 1991
- Henry Rex Hollett, 1997
- G. Glen Ridgway, K.C., 2011
- Anne Murray, 2011
- James Dias, 2011
- George Seymour, 2015
- Tom Walker, 2018
- Jon Lefebure, 2023
- David Haywood, 2023
About Graham P. Bruce
- President of Mt Prevost Junior High School – two years
- President of Cowichan Senior Secondary School
- Director of Operation Recreation (OPREC Community Swimming Pool Advocacy Committee)
- Member of City of Duncan Parks & Recreation Commission
- Alderman North Cowichan 1976 (age 24)
- Mayor North Cowichan 1979 to 1986 (age 27 – youngest mayor in Canada)
- Canadian Institute of Forestry Honorary Member (1985)
- Director Cowichan Valley Regional Board
- MLA 1986 to 1991– served one year as both Mayor & MLA
- Minister of Municipal Affairs 1991
- MLA 2001 to 2005 - Minister of Labour, House Leader
- Director of Cowichan Foundation
- Chair of Chemainus BIA
- Executive Director of Cowichan Journey of a Generation – 2008 NAIG Foundation
- Chair of New Story Community Board of Directors – addiction relief program for Indigenous women
- Chair of Strengthening Democracy
Career & life events
- Worked in family grocery business – Bruce’s Grocery
- 1972/73 - Hitchhiked across North Africa, Middle East & Europe
- Worked in construction, bartender, truck driver
- Operated Office Coffee business with wife Anneke
- Sports Editor for Cowichan Leader
- Owned & operated Bruce’s Grocery & Chemainus Foods with brother Garry
- CEO Island Corridor Foundation 2009 to 2018
Led or assisted community initiatives as Mayor or MLA
- First Official Community Plan
- Cowichan Estuary Preservation
- Mt Tzouhalem Ecological Reserve
- Somenos Flats Reserve
- Chemainus Industrial Park & Southend Industrial Park
- 10 Year Capital Road Plan
- Nationally recognized Forestry Program
- Employment Bridging Assistance Forestry Program
- Strategy for Survival - Island Forestry investment
- Downtown Chemainus/Crofton Re-development
- Mural Program
- Spirit of Chemainus Sailing Ship
- Cowichan Sportsplex
- Cowichan Valley wine production
- Cat-scan for Cowichan District Hospital
- Expanded Emergency Care & Pharmacy at CDH
- Revamped and protected Chemainus Hospital
- Established first Malaspina College Campus with Cowichan Tribes
- New Crofton Elementary School
- Circle Route Lake Cowichan/Port Renfrew
Family
- Born in Duncan at Kings Daughter Hospital to Madge & Preston Bruce. (Preston was a Freeman of the City of Duncan)
- Married Anneke in 1975
- Four children (Sheri, Shule, Ryan, Tyler) many grandchildren & several great grandchildren
- Two brothers and two sisters
- An avid skier, scuba diver, golfer; played squash, basketball, soccer, baseball and pickleball. Many years coaching basketball, baseball and soccer.
- Now enjoying summer boating or travelling in the winter but mainly keeping up with the grandchildren.