Re: 鈥淓x-Oak Bay mayor remembered as 鈥榚ternal optimist鈥� by friends,鈥� April聽9.
I was saddened to learn of Nils Jensen鈥檚 recent battle with cancer and his passing last weekend.
I came to know Jensen during our time serving together on a board of directors. In that environment, not only was he a man of capability, he was also a man of great personality.
This being said, my letter is about Jensen 鈥渢he politician.鈥� Having been politically active since my university days and having had the opportunity to meet prime ministers, premiers, federal and provincial cabinet ministers, mayors and councillors, I found Jensen to be a standout.
He was fun, interesting, modest and a first-class storyteller. While politics can sometimes be a blood sport, attracting all sorts of people, some well motivated and others not so much, Jensen struck me as one of the 鈥済ood ones.鈥� Regardless of whether our politics aligned, I found him to be balanced and thoughtful during our many lunches together.
He will be missed.
Mark Mawhinney
Oak Bay
