Derek Meyers, Sask. MLA and psychological well being advocate, lifeless at 45

Derek Meyers, Sask. MLA and psychological well being advocate, lifeless at 45
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He grew to become a family identify in Regina whereas serving as a sports activities reporter and anchor with World TV for practically 10 years.

Revealed Mar 28, 2023  •  Final up to date 1 day in the past  •  3 minute learn

Derek Meyers, Sask. MLA and psychological well being advocate, lifeless at 45
Derek Meyers, MLA for Regina Walsh Acres, exterior the Legislative Constructing in December 2020. Photograph by Michael Bell Pictures /Regina Chief-Submit

Former colleagues in politics and media are celebrating the legacy of Saskatchewan Occasion MLA Derek Meyers who died after a battle with most cancers. He was 45.

“By all the challenges he confronted, Derek remained one of the crucial upbeat and optimistic individuals I’ve ever met,” Premier Scott Moe stated in a tweet Tuesday.

Meyers, a former sports activities reporter elected as MLA for Regina Walsh Acres in 2020, was a “tireless advocate on behalf of everybody dealing with psychological well being challenges and an important a part of our authorities caucus,” Moe stated.

NDP Chief Carla Beck echoed Moe’s sentiments, calling Meyers a “devoted advocate for his neighborhood, even all through his prognosis.”

Likewise, CJME sportscaster Jamie Nye tweeted, “He fought so onerous. He cherished so onerous. Now go be w/ your stunning angel.”

And one other former sportscaster Mitchell Blair wrote, “I had many good laughs with “Duke” over time from his days at World and co-hosting Sportscage with me My sympathies to all of those who knew him, He was an unique.”

Days earlier than the election writ dropped in 2020, Meyers’ daughter Teigha died by suicide on the age of 17.

When Meyers was formally sworn in on Nov. 9, 2020, he carried in his fingers the New Testomony that Teigha had along with her for her first communion.

“She’s right here every single day with me and I’ve all the time stated, ‘She’s my gentle’ and she is going to proceed to be,” Meyers later the Chief-Submit for a profile later that yr.  “She’s going to be the sunshine for a lot of others as a result of her legacy will hopefully have an effect on someone on the market.”

He stated he hoped to be one of many voices within the authorities for these scuffling with psychological sickness.

Eight days after he was elected, Meyers and his companion, Laurie Eire, welcomed their new child daughter Eisley.

Saskatchewan MLA Derek Meyers with his family Dayn, from left, Sebastian, Eisley and his partner Laurie Ireland.
Saskatchewan MLA Derek Meyers along with his household Dayn, from left, Sebastian, Eisley and his companion Laurie Eire. Photograph courtesy Derek Meyers.

Justice Minister Christine Inform recalled fond reminiscences with Meyers through the 2020 marketing campaign.

“He was simply so optimistic about his work, optimistic about his life, his household,” Inform advised Canadian Press on Tuesday. “He was somebody that might speak to anyone at any time about something.”

Inform stated she remembered Meyers going by means of a tricky time after his daughter’s loss of life.

Nonetheless, she stated Meyers was dedicated to his advocacy and work.

“He was actually one among a form,” she stated.

Raised on a farm close to Midale, Meyers got here from a household concerned in oil exploration and manufacturing.

He initially began out within the oilfields earlier than changing into a geologist, however finally moved into sports activities. He grew to become a family identify in Regina whereas serving as a sports activities reporter and anchor with World TV for practically 10 years.

In 2015, he stepped apart as a sports activities reporter to concentrate on his rising and energetic household. He additionally targeting his manufacturing firm whereas pondering transferring into the political realm.

Meyers was a volunteer with the Canadian Psychological Well being Affiliation. With the video manufacturing firm he headed, Meyers even produced movies for the affiliation.

It wasn’t a seamless transition to politics. Meyers put his identify ahead because the Saskatchewan Occasion’s nominee for the Regina Northeast constituency in 2019. Nonetheless, Gary Grewal received the nomination and he would go on to win the Northeast constituency within the 2020 provincial election.

Meyers and his election crew determined to make one other run, this time in Walsh Acres, the place his nomination was acclaimed.

On Oct. 26, 2020, he received his seat within the legislature, ending first in his using with 3,148 votes, 606 greater than the NDP’s Kelly Hardy.

Flags on the legislative meeting had been lowered to half-mast in Meyers’ honour

Flags are at half-mast as it was announced by Premier Scott Moe that Regina Walsh Acres MLA Derek Meyers has died from cancer on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Regina.
Flags are at half-mast because it was introduced by Premier Scott Moe that Regina Walsh Acres MLA Derek Meyers has died from most cancers on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Regina. Photograph by TROY FLEECE /Regina Chief-Submit

— with recordsdata from Murray McCormick and Canadian Press

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