The Cloverdale Rotary Club roasted well known Cloverdale booster Bill Reid before a packed house at the Eaglequet Coyote Creek Golf Club on October 22.

Bill is a former MLA for Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale, former Minister of Tourism, and currently Executive Director of the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce.

First up was Grace McCarthy, herself a former cabinet minister, and considered by many the Grande Dame of B.C. politics. She reminised how she had first met Bill in 1972, and went on to describe him as one of the forces behind Expo 86.

Next up was Kevin Falcon, current MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, and Minister of Health. He joked that he was only there because he had received an invitation addressed to “Dear Resident”. He said he had received crabs from Bill, quickly adding that they were caught by Bill at Birch Bay.

Surrey Councillor Linda Hepner quipped that she had come to the event under the mistaken impression that it was for Bill Reid the Haida artist.

Paul Orazietti is Executive Director of the Cloverdale Business Improvement Association, and shares an office with Bill. He recounted the top 10 things heard in the office, our favourite being “welcome to Cloverdale, centre of the universe”.

Bill was also given an award by the Rotary Club for his many years of service to the community.

Bill was very touched by the tributes. As his wife Marion was heard to observe, this was the first time in her life she had ever seen him speechless.

The event was also a fundraiser for Bill’s favourite charity, the CH.I.L.D. Foundation for children with intestinal and liver disorders.

Hats off to Bill Reid, one of the driving forces in the community, and one of those great characters who help make Cloverdale such a wonderful place to live.