Ron Austen, the Cowichan Valley Regional District's General Manager of Parks, Recreation and Culture has attended his very last CVRD meeting as a member of the staff.
The long-time public servant is retiring, but swung by a recent regional services committee meeting for old time's sake.
"I do thank you for the acknowledgement," Austen said, after board chair Rob Hutchins noted his presence in the gallery's back row.
"Thirty-five years has gone by very quickly, but the best thing I ever did was come to the Cowichan Valley," he said. Ironically, one of the first things Austen will do once retired is leave town. But he'll be back. He's just taking a few months to travel before returning to the CVRD board in the spring for more formal recognition.