‘Everyone considered Derek a friend’: Funeral held for Sask. MLA Derek Meyers | 24CA News
A celebration of life was held for Saskatchewan MLA Derek Meyers Saturday afternoon on the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina.
Meyers, died at 45 years-old on March 28 after a battle with most cancers.
Meyers was the MLA for Regina’s Walsh Acres after being elected in 2020.
On prime of his time as a legislature member, Meyers was additionally a former Global News broadcaster, the place he met an in depth pal Jill McAlister-Lane.
She stated his ardour for showcasing native sports activities in any respect ranges was inspiring to see.
“Derek had an ability to tell stories in a way that that was really unique because he believed so much in showcasing local athletes and teams and really giving them a platform,” she stated.
“Whatever team or athlete, he couldn’t wait to give the opportunity to showcase how great they were. He wanted to lift other people up and really be the cheerleader and showcase what they were great at.”
McAlister-Lane was pals with Meyers for roughly 15 years, and stated Meyers was a relentless exhausting employee at all the pieces thrown his method.
“For a guy who is pretty loud and has a big personality, he also had this quiet leadership about him,” she defined. “He really saw the value of leading by example.”
“Everyone considered Derek a friend… and you were Derek’s friend,” McAlister-Lane stated.
Shannon Patton, from the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Regina department, echoed an analogous sentiment about Meyers.
“I never once in my life heard Derek ever say a bad word about anybody and he treated everybody like he was their best friend,” Patton stated.
Meyers was a tireless advocate for psychological well being all through his profession, however particularly with youth after dropping his teenage daughter to suicide in 2020.
Patton stated Meyers filmed and edited over 10 promotional movies for the CMHA, with out asking for a cent in return.
“The people that love you simply because of you being you, that’s a once in a lifetime kind of person,” Patton stated.
