Parksville’s city hall saw a drive-by of emergency vehicles head down Jensen Avenue on Thursday afternoon.
Jan. 28 marked Craig Reid’s last day as the bylaws supervisor for the City of Parksville, and to err on the side of caution with COVID gathering regulations, a drive-by parade went past city hall at 2 p.m. as a sendoff for Reid.
Several emergency vehicles sounded their sirens and flashed their lights, including two fire engines and several RCMP SUVs.
Co-workers and friends gathered on the pavement to celebrate and congratulate Reid on his retirement.
A “drive-by” retirement was held outside Parksville city hall at 2 p.m., as today marks Craig Reid’s final day as the bylaw supervisor for the City of Parksville.
— Mandy Moraes Moon (@newmoon_reports) January 28, 2021
“I’m rarely ever speechless, but I am now. I’ve got a big lump in my throat,” he said. @City_Parksville pic.twitter.com/NoD288VHDM
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“I’m absolutely in shock that this happened,” said Reid. “I thought I was going to sneak out the back door at the end of the day. This staff, unbelievable. Friendly. We’ve always been really backed, right from the top, with our senior management. Which made the job like a walk in the park. So a little lump in the throat right now. It’s really nice to be remembered like this when your on the way out the door.”
Reid worked with the RCMP for 28 years before shifting to bylaws, spending three years in Nanaimo, three with Qualicum Beach and then spending the last decade in Parksville.
He said his future retirement plans include fishing and woodworking at the Horne Lake residence he shares with his wife.