Condolences pour in following the death of former B.C. tourism minister Ian Waddell

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Ian Waddell, a former provincial cabinet minister credited with helping B.C. secure the bid for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, has died at age 78.

Condolences poured in for Waddell, who following four terms as an NDP member of parliament and one term as an MLA, and made his mark in Vancouver’s film industry as an entertainment lawyer, film producer and author.

Waddell died at home Monday night. A cause of death was not announced.

“I’m saddened to learn of the passing of Ian Waddell,” said Premier John Horgan, who said Waddell was the first person to welcome him to Parliament Hill when Horgan worked as a legislative assistant 35 years ago.

“Everything he did, he approached with passion and a desire to make progress for people,” Horgan said.

Waddell was elected as an NDP MLA in 1996 when he narrowly won the riding of Vancouver-Fraserview. Former premier Glen Clark told Postmedia News on Tuesday that owing to his energetic boosterism for the province, Waddell was his natural choice for minister of tourism and culture in 1998.

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“He had a big, shameless, upbeat personality,” said Clark, who worked as Waddell’s campaign manager when he was first elected as MP for Vancouver Kingsway in 1979. “He was a terrific tourism minister. He’s a booster. He loved being positive about Canada and British Columbia.”

Waddell persuaded Clark that the province was falling behind other jurisdictions when it came to attracting film and production companies and he dramatically increased the film tax credit, which helped foster a multi-billion dollar industry in B.C.

Clark did not know how Waddell died but said he was shocked to learn of his passing. Waddell’s gregarious personality made him a perfect master of ceremonies at Clark’s wedding in 1980.

On Sunday, Waddell posted a photo to Twitter from his Vancouver balcony with the caption: “The view from my deck today as the blossoms start. See Stanley Park in distance and the rest of Canada over the coastal mountains. Paradise.”

Horgan said Waddell’s countless accomplishments include helping boost the province’s film industry “into the thriving Hollywood North that it is today and being instrumental in getting the 2010 Vancouver Olympics bid off the ground. He was a defender of our environment, an accomplished author and lawyer, and worked to make life better for young people at every opportunity.”

During his time as minister responsible for culture, Waddell helped introduce tax credits that lured Hollywood producers to B.C. and paved the way for the region to become “Hollywood North.”

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“We are very sad to hear the news of Ian’s passing,” read a statement shared Tuesday by Creative BC spokesperson Lisa Escudero, on behalf of the organization. “He was a passionate supporter of B.C.’s film industry and will be missed by many. Condolences to his friends and loved ones on behalf of Creative BC.”

Health Minister Adrian Dix said Tuesday he’s mourning the loss of a friend, former boss and colleague.

“This is a big loss in our lives,” he said. “When I think of Ian, I think of him with a smile. He had an energy for life.”

Dix was an aide to Waddell as an MP and worked on Waddell’s unsuccessful bid to lead the federal NDP in 1989 following the resignation of Ed Broadbent. Dix also worked for Clark when Waddell was in the provincial cabinet.

Dix said Waddell was pivotal in pushing for Vancouver to host the 2010 Winter Olympics over Calgary and Quebec City.

Waddell’s career in provincial politics followed a 14-year career as a member of Parliament. Waddell was the NDP MP for Vancouver Kingsway from 1979 to 1989 and then represented the riding of Port Moody-Coquitlam until 1993. During his time in Ottawa, Waddell was instrumental drafting Section 35 of the Canadian Charter of Rights, which affirmed the treaty rights of Canadian Indigenous peoples.

Waddell’s lifelong mentor was Justice Thomas Berger. Waddell served as counsel to Berger during the 1974 Mackenzie Valley pipeline inquiry which prevented the pipeline from being built through the Northwest Territories. Waddell’s work on the inquiry formed many of his views on Indigenous rights, the environmental and responsible development, Dix said.

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Once out of politics, Waddell produced a documentary about why young people don’t vote which won a best producer award at the Beverly Hills Film Festival. Waddell also served as president of the Association of Former Members of Parliament Foundation and president of the Former MLAs of British Columbia.

In his book, Take the Torch, Waddell reflects on his experience as a storefront lawyer, his involvement in the Berger Inquiry and his long political career. Silas White, president of Nightwood Editions, which published Waddell’s book, said the publisher is “shocked and saddened” at news of Waddell’s death.

“Ian will also be remembered by everyone who encountered him for his non-stop energy, enthusiasm, generosity and vitality,” White said. “His lifelong love was for life itself, which he demonstrated as full-speed as ever in recent days as he honed his home workout routine and planned to write a book on seniors’ fitness — despite, I am sure, never actually considering himself to be a senior citizen.”

kderosa@postmedia.com
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