Former Port Alberni city councillor Helen Poon has died following a car crash in New Zealand.
Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions called Poon, who served as councillor from 2018-22 during Minions香蕉视频直播� first term as mayor, 香蕉视频直播渁 cherished colleague, a dear friend and a vibrant soul who has left an unforgettable mark on our community and in our hearts.香蕉视频直播�
Minions said Poon was a 香蕉视频直播渃onsistent voice for progress and an unwavering proponent of positive change. Her belief in the potential of our community was unparalleled, and her contributions, including her instrumental support for the acquisition of the Somass Lands and several other key projects, set the course for transformational change in Port Alberni.香蕉视频直播�
Minions, as with many of Poon香蕉视频直播檚 friends and acquaintances, called her 香蕉视频直播渋conic香蕉视频直播ndescribably unique香蕉视频直播er passion for classic cars was not just a hobby; it was a reflection of her zest for life and her love for connecting with others.香蕉视频直播�
Poon travelled to New Zealand香蕉视频直播檚 North Island over the holidays with a friend, spending Christmas Day in Auckland and meeting up with others in the central North Island. A car enthusiast with a love of the classics, Poon was known around the world for her love of touring. She borrowed an Audi TT 1.8t to drive around New Zealand.
Poon was in a car south of Hastings on State Highway (SH) 50 on Dec. 30 when her vehicle was involved in a crash at the intersection with Maraekakaho Road. She was taken to a regional hospital and later airlifted to Wellington with critical injuries. She died Jan. 4, 2024.
Word of her crash spread through auto groups Poon belonged to, and people began sharing their memories on social media. Poon had a penchant for whiskey and cigars, proudly wore her fur coat香蕉视频直播攅ven while camping香蕉视频直播攁nd wasn香蕉视频直播檛 afraid to drive her European cars off-road. She was known for her sense of humour.
香蕉视频直播淭he world truly needs more kind-hearted, bold and unique people like you in it,香蕉视频直播� one friend posted. 香蕉视频直播淭hat show up, and that show up classy and cool. In a vintage coat, with a cigar in one hand and a bottle of香蕉视频直播攁lways luxurious香蕉视频直播攚ine (or whiskey!) in the other.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚 know the car communities across not only Vancouver but throughout the world will certainly miss you and have a huge void that cannot be replaced,香蕉视频直播� another said.
香蕉视频直播淭hank you for being such a great friend.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲e will miss you and your smiling energy.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淗elen, you are classy as hell.香蕉视频直播�
Poon loved road trips; after she was elected to Port Alberni city council she toured around small communities in B.C. It was a similar tour that brought her to Vancouver Island.
Poon, from Vancouver, visited Port Alberni and Ucluelet in 2017 with an auto club she belonged to along with real estate agent and fellow car enthusiast Dave Koszegi of Port Alberni. She saw potential in the city, and purchased the Kingsway Pub and Hotel rejuvenating the historic building in the spring of 2018 (she also bought a house in Port Alberni). Poon. who studied law, was passionate about providing affordable housing to people, something she was involved with in Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 Downtown Eastside.
The pub was also her downfall politically, as she failed to take out development permits for further work on the pub while she was a sitting city councillor, and was forced to apologize publicly. Poon decided not to run for re-election after her first term. She did take a break in 2020 to run for the provincial Liberal party in an unsuccessful bid for MLA in Mid Island-Pacific Rim.
Some of her accomplishments while in Port Alberni included election as director-at-large on the Union of BC Municipalities board, member of the Young Professionals of Alberni Valley, Literacy Alberni and Alberni Hospice Society. She prided herself on her provincial-level advocacy experience.
When it was announced that Matthews West was chosen as developer for the Somass Lands on Port Alberni香蕉视频直播檚 waterfront, Poon posted on Facebook that she was 香蕉视频直播減roud to have been part of the council that acquired the site.香蕉视频直播�
