Before he got his start in politics, Foothills MP John Barlow was a reporter and got to cover a lot of municipal politicians, three of whom have recently passed.

He says he took a lot from covering Foothills MD Reeve Flores Groeneveld, Black Diamond Mayor Rolly Magee, and Okotoks Mayor Bill Robertson.

"Flores Groeneveld is one of the most beautiful people I've ever met in my entire life, I looked at him as a mentor. I have the utmost respect for Flores, he was the Reeve of the MD when I sat in those council meetings for hours on end every Thursday and I just looked at him and people like Flores, Rolly Magee, and Bill Robertson as great leaders and great community people."

He says the three helped him form the man he's become even before he decided he wanted to go into politics.

"The thing I take from them the most is 'don't be a politician, don't forget who you are, always be committed to the people who have put their trust in you and believe in you,' and that's something I'll always hold dear," Barlow adds.

He says the three men were always proud of their communities wherever they went and they could be seen at pretty much every function.

"They were just regular guys, doing the best they could for the community they loved because it was an opportunity for them to give back and that's something that's so important and something ingrained in me as well, this isn't about you, it isn't about how you benefit from taking office it's about giving back to the community that gave so much to you and their families and I feel the same way."

Rolly Magee was a councillor in Black Diamond for one term and then became Mayor, staying in the position for ten years until health issues prompted him to leave office.

Black Diamond Mayor Rolly Magee

Flores Groeneveld was active in his church, parades (especially the Blackie parade,) local theatre, coaching, the Masonic Temple and as Reeve and Deputy Reeve of the Foothills MD, now Foothills County.

Flores Groeneveld's Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, August 14, at the Highwood Centre at 1 p.m. while a Celebration of Life for Rolly Magee will be held at the Black Diamond Gospel Church at 2 p.m.

 

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