Comox Community Mourns The Passing Of Former Mayor Russ Arnott

Flags are flying at half-mast outside Comox Town Hall after the passing of former Mayor Russ Arnott.

Arnott passed away on Friday, surrounded by family.

Arnott announced he was cancelling his bid for re-election in September, with a post on his Facebook page. At that time, Arnott had said he had cherished his 11 years as councillor and mayor, but that life had thrown him a curveball.

In a release, the Town says Arnott lived to serve, guiding the town over the years, and through the pandemic, to help build a resiliency for a brighter tomorrow.

Newly elected Mayor Nicole Minions says when you think about service, you think about Russ Arnott. She says, "It seems almost  everyone has a story or a special moment that reflects his nature of giving - and now we need to share these stories to keep and move forward his vision of  positive change."

Arnott recently received the Freedom of the Town award for his tireless efforts to the community.

Arnott was first elected to Town council in 2008 before taking the Mayor's chair in 2018 and spent years working on several different boards and committees, including the Comox BIA, the Marina Enhancement Committee and the Comox Valley Accessibility Committee, among others.