Long-time Kelowna councillor and civic booster Ben Lee dies

KELOWNA – Flags at Kelowna city hall will be flown at half mast until Saturday in honour of Ben Lee, a long-serving former Kelowna city councillor and teacher, who died Sunday.

Lee, 86, is being remembered by many friends and well-wishers on social media as a kind man who touched many lives during the 34 years he taught school and the 23 years he served on Kelowna city council. He last served under Mayor Walter Gray from 1993 to 1996.

Mayor Colin Basran calls Lee "a quiet trailblazer" who gave an incredible amount to the community he lived in.

"He left an indelible mark on our city. He was a teacher, coach, councillor and committed family man," Basran says.

Lee is survived by his wife Joyce and sons John and Robert.

Basran says Lee will also be remembered as chair of the Central Okanagan Regional District's parks committee where he was a dedicated advocate of parkland acquisition.

Ben Lee Park in Rutland is named after him. The city dedicated land to the park on Lee's retirement from council in 1996. The park opened in 2001.

A celebration of Lee's life will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 26 at Ben Lee Park,

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.