One of the most involved and caring citizens Invermere has ever had has lost a battle with cancer.

From being a major member of the long-running coffee club that gathered at different java-serving venues each week over the years, solving all the District of Invermere’s problems to serving two terms on council, helping keep the Columbia Valley Rockies afloat with a tireless volunteer energy, that also benefitted the Lake Windermere District Lions Club and Royal Canadian Legion, to being involved in pretty much any and everything going involving Invermere’s betterment, Ray Brydon was truly a consistent force for making things better for the future.

“Invermere has lost a great citizen. I had the pleasure of serving with Ray on council for six years, he always put community first and without a doubt left a real mark- and will be missed by many. On council Ray was cheerful, optimistic, and calm- you could count on his consistency and his respect and support of DOI staff. He loved numbers and keeping an eye on details. Invermere has truly lost a great guy- hopefully we can all be inspired by the dedication and selflessness Ray brought to volunteerism and to his town,” stated District of Invermere Mayor Gerry Taft on Facebook.“I hope we can remember and honour Ray by all of us trying to become better people and better citizens… I’m sure along the way I’ll be asking myself ‘what would Ray do? And I know the answer will guide me well. Condolences to his family, Jan I’m truly sorry.”

In the past two decades, Ray was a tireless supporter of the Rockies, being part of a group that came along following the death of team founder and KIJHL legend Eddie Mountain and propped up the club with extreme amounts of volunteer time and energy.

Ray’s passing comes right before an annual event that has his fingerprints all over it –Bull Riding in the Rockies, which takes place tomorrow evening (July 22) in Invermere.

“This will be a very bittersweet instance of our Bull Riding event for all of us, and especially those involved in the Rockies Bull Riding Committee. Today we lost one of the longest serving, and most dedicated volunteers our group and community has known,” the Columbia Valley Rockies stated on Facebook this morning.

“Ray Brydon was a unique individual, who up until a few short weeks ago continued to actively pursue a daily routine of organizing Bull Riding set up, fundraising for the Rockies, helping run the Legion and Lion’s Clubs, and operating the Downtown Farmers’ Market, and much, much more, in addition to spending quality time with his family.

“To Ray’s great credit, it is unlikely that either the Columbia Valley Rockies, or Bull Riding in the Rockies, would still be such a vibrant part of our community, or remain in existence at all, were it not for his commitment and efforts over many years. The thoughts of all of us who had the pleasure and privilege to know him, will be with his wife, Jan, and all their family circle at this time.

“We will all look around on Friday night expecting to see Ray running around making sure everything is going as it should, that all the volunteers are getting time to eat, and have a break; and overseeing the bars. We are very thankful that Ray was able to live his life in the manner he always had right up until recent weeks; and we have no doubt his presence will be very much with us on Friday. The enormous positive impact that he had on all of us, our Community, and our Team, leaves us with a very full and vibrant legacy of his good works – may he Rest in Peace. This year’s Bull Riding in the Rockies is for Ray Brydon,” the Rockies’ statement concluded.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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