The District of Tumbler Ridge is expressing condolences for the passing of former mayor Clay Iles, elected twice to office - first in 1999 and again in 2002.
“Clay was the Mayor of Tumbler Ridge when news of the closure of the Quintette Coal mine was announced,” wrote the district on social media. “Not wanting to accept defeat, Clay’s determination and leadership saw mandates accomplished resulting in the town of Tumbler Ridge existing today.”
Flags sat at half-mast at the district’s municipal buildings in Iles’s honour. Founders Street was also renamed to Iles Way in October 2014 in recognition of the former mayor’s achievements.
Iles was born in Manitoba on April 7, 1938, and lived throughout his home province, as well as Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and B.C., with his first wife, Marj, who passed in 1995. Clay then married Ferne Emberly in 1999 and they lived together in Tumbler Ridge before moving to Grande Prairie in 2018.
“Clay was a highly competitive hockey player, coached many hockey teams and enjoyed the sport with his family,” reads his obituary. “He also loved playing baseball and never turned down a round of golf. Most of all Clay loved spending time with family and friends. He loved to laugh, dance, snuggle babies, and tell stories. Clay was a kind, generous, good man.”
