Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL Mayor John Hickey has passed away.
Hickey accidentally shot himself while tending to a rabbit snare last Saturday, December 9, 2017.
Happy Valley-Goose Bay Town Council released this statement today:
“The Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Town Council are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Mayor John Hickey at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s late last evening, December 14, surrounded by his family.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Mayor Hickey’s family at this very difficult time,” says Deputy Mayor Wally Andersen.
“This is a sad time for our community, and we urge all residents to respect the privacy of Mr. Hickey’s family and to remember them in their thoughts and prayers.”
Hickey lived in Goose Bay since 1974.
He worked as a high voltage lineman with NL Hydro for 25 years.
He was involved in municipal politics for over 16 years.
Hickey moved up to provincial politics in 2003, eventually becoming the Minister of Labrador Affairs while with the PC government.
Hickey retired from provincial politics in 2011.
He ran for mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay in 2013, and lost, but ran a successful campaign to become mayor again in September 2017.
John Hickey was 62 years old.
With files from CBC.ca