A celebration of life was held for Saskatchewan MLA Derek Myers on Saturday afternoon at the Connexus Arts Center in Regina.
Myers died on March 28 at the age of 45 after a battle with cancer.
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Saskatchewan MLA Derek Myers dies at 45 after battling cancer
Myers was an MLA at Walsh Acres of Regina after being elected in 2020.
In addition to his time in Congress, Myers is also a former Global News broadcaster, where he met his best friend, Jill McAllister Raine.
She said his passion for showcasing local sports at all levels was inspiring to watch.
“Derek believed so much in showcasing local athletes and teams and giving them a platform that gave them the ability to tell stories in a truly unique way,” she said.
“He couldn’t wait for the chance to show off what they were great at, no matter what team or athlete they were. It is.”
McAlister-Lane has been friends with Meyers for about 15 years, and says Meyers was always a hard worker in everything he did.
“For a guy with a pretty loud, big personality, he also had this quiet leadership about him,” she explained. “He really understood the value of setting an example.” .”
“Everyone thought Derek was a friend…and you were Derek’s friend,” McAllister Lane said.
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Shannon Patton of the Regina Chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) expressed a similar opinion about Myers.
“Never in my life did I hear Derek speak ill of anyone. He treated everyone like a best friend,” Patton said.
Myers has been a tireless advocate for mental health throughout her career, especially in her younger years after losing her teenage daughter to suicide in 2020.
According to Patton, Myers shot and edited more than 10 promotional videos for the CMHA and didn’t get a cent in return.
“People who love you just for who you are are the kind of people who love you once in a lifetime,” Patton said.
