Murdered Penticton man remembered as a diligent worker

PENTICTON – The man murdered in Penticton last week was a father of four and worked at the Copper Mountain Mine.

Frank Armitage worked with Darren Leadbeater, 36, the person police named yesterday as the man murdered at Golden Sands Resort in Penticton, and says he was shocked when he learned of his co-worker's death.

“I knew him well — as well as you can know an employee,” says the recently retired Human Resources consultant at Copper Mountain Mine near Princeton.

Armitage called Leadbeater “a diligent worker” who made his way through the mine training program after starting out as part of the blasting crew.

“He learned how to drive the big dump trucks and eventually became proficient in operating the larger equipment,” he says, adding Leadbeater started working at the mine four years ago.

“I understand he played junior hockey in Alberta when he was younger, and had health issues requiring surgery because of it. He was physically a good sized lad,” he says.

Armitage says he and Leadbeater always had lots to talk about, saying he was a good employee who got along well with everyone.

“He opened up to me about his personal life, his marriage, which I understand had parted of late. He never spoke to me about police, or drugs or anything like that,” he says. “It’s very sad to hear news like that when it’s a person you worked with and knew.”

Leadbeater played with the Barley Mill team in the Penticton Ball Hockey League. On his Twitter page he describes himself as a “Men’s league grinder, father of four. I move mountains with Tonka toys.” He was an Edmonton Oilers fan and enjoyed country music.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.