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A mainstay of East Sooke: Lloyad Boehmer

For Lloyad Boehmer, it was always about community
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Long after the settlement by immigrants to East Sooke beginning in the late 1800s, pioneers who came to live among the First Nations, a second wave of development and settlement occurred in the 1970s, and among these newcomers was Lloyad Boehmer.

In today’s world this would make Boehmer, who arrived in 1972, one of the longest-time residents of East Sooke, which he was, until his unexpected death on Oct. 4. He devoted himself to his family and his community for almost half a century.

Born in 1945, growing up on a farm, the grandson of Austrian immigrant homesteaders in Saskatchewan, Boehmer went on to attend the University of Saskatchewan, earning a degree in education. He had the special honour of receiving his diploma from former prime minister John Diefenbaker, who at that time was the university’s chancellor.

After teaching two years in Winnipeg, Boehmer headed west.

Not seeing many teaching jobs at the time, he took what work was available and went into construction. Most of East Sooke’s development boom has taken place since the 1970s, so his timing was right on.

He got an early start with Dick Cains and his Mount Matheson Estates development, helping to establish the water reservoirs needed for that project. He has been responsible for many of the custom homes that began to rise in East Sooke.

In time, Boehmer and Donna Langford built their home on Seagirt Road, raising their daughter Samantha there. Phoebe Dunbar, who knew Boehmer well, has this to say: “When Bob and I first moved to East Sooke in 1979, we met many fine people and found that the underlying theme was always community. We learned quickly the “go to folks” and Lloyad was one of them. He never hesitated to jump in and get involved to serve our community.”

In the early to mid-1980s when an opportunity presented itself to establish a fire improvement district, Boehmer stepped up to help petition the residents. Again, he was there when we needed a volunteer building supervisor to assist Paul Argast in the construction of the first East Sooke firehall on Coppermine Road.

With incredible support from the community, and leaders like Boehmer, the hall was completed by 1985 ­– debt-free Then came the children’s playground, a tennis court, and for 30 more years Boehmer’s contributions never stopped.

Boehmer served as an elected fire trustee and chair for many years, and helped maintain the community hall, always offering a cheerful, welcoming face whenever the museum took historical tours over to the east side of the harbour.

Boehmer leaves behind his wife Donna, daughter Samantha, stepson Robin and grandchildren Oscar, Genevieve, Cole and Ryley.

A celebration of Boehmer’s life is to be held at the 17 Mile House Pub on Oct. 22, from 2 to 4 p.m.

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Elida Peers is the historian of Sooke Region Museum.