Tribute in BC legislature for Terry Moist

Much thanks to North Island MLA Claire Trevena for this wonderful tribute to the late Terry Moist, a passionate community advocate and former Board Voice board member. Here is Terry’s obituary in the Campbell River Mirror.

This is the transcript of Trevena’s remarks in the BC legislature this week:

Terry Moist

It is with great sadness that I share with the House today the sudden death of Terry Moist. Terry was a generous, supportive, smart and compassionate man. Like other young teachers in the early ’70s, he was attracted to Campbell River by the innovations in education happening there, starting at Carihi high before moving to alternative education programs. As one of his friends said, he kept kids out of jail.

Terry made a difference to so many people and to the community. He was an integral part of the John Howard Society of North Island. He was on the society’s board for 43 years, starting when there were just two employees. Now it has more than 130 people running a huge variety of programs, including one of the first Foundry centres.

From establishing an outdoor challenge centre in the ’80s to bringing restorative justice to the community to establishing youth housing, Terry helped turn ideas for troubled youth into realities. He said: “I’ve always had an affinity for and ability to connect with kids on the fringe.” An educator friend told me: “When dealing with school populations, if you look after the edges, the middle will take care of itself.” I think this philosophy applies everywhere.

In 2014, Terry received the province’s highest recognition for community safety and crime prevention, the Anthony J. Hume Lifetime Achievement Award. When he died, he was the board chair at John Howard again. Terry had also been the president of the Campbell River District Teachers Association, and his collaborative approach was shown when negotiating what teachers of the time said was one of the best agreements they’d ever reached.

He was a sailor around our West Coast waters, up to Alaska, over to Hawaii. And on winter days, he could be found on his sailboat, with the heater on, reading. He was a golfer. He was a runner. He was part of the Oyster River Enhancement Society. He was a New Democrat, active in many, many elections.

He died too soon. He leaves his wife, Patricia Trasolini and daughters, Sunny and Breigh. I hope the House will pass on our condolences to them and to the many friends who are truly missing him.