Feeling the loss of one of their own in the Robinson Creek mudslide, Sunnybrae residents are hoping to honour the memory of Roy Sharp.

Bastion Ranch owner David Miege says support for a petition to be delivered to the Columbia Shuswap Regional District has also come from Tappen and Salmon Arm.

He says people who did not know Sharp personally, recognized him from his friendly waves as they drove along Sunnybrae-Canoe Point Road.

鈥淩oy Sharp was a well-loved and respected member of our community who was always willing to help out his friends and neighbours,鈥� reads Miege鈥檚 preamble to the petition, asking that Robinson Creek Park be renamed in Sharp鈥檚 honour.

鈥淥ur community park is not appropriately named as the creek does not even enter the park,鈥� he says , noting the park sign is heavily damaged and needs to be replaced. 鈥淩eplacing the sign with 鈥楻oy Sharp Community Park鈥� would be a great memorial to a longtime resident of the area and bring greater meaning to the name of our community park.鈥�

Miege says, initially, he mentioned the idea to a couple of people who were enthusiastic about it. His wife convinced him to create the petition to show the level of support.

He has contacted Sharp鈥檚 family.

鈥淭he two I spoke to were really touched by the idea,鈥� he says.

Miege plans to submit the petition to the CSRD for approval, hopefully in time for the July board meeting.

Ryan Nitchie, the CSRD鈥檚 team leader of community services, says the regional district is aware of Miege鈥檚 petition.

鈥淏asically, the CSRD has no formal policy for naming parks,鈥� he said. 鈥淗owever, it is something we could certainly consider and look forward to bringing it to the board of directors for review.鈥�

As well as an , hard copies are available at Tappen Co-op, Gem Diesel and Reliable Rebuilders.

鈥淓veryone I talked to was so supportive of the idea; it made sense to all of them,鈥� said Miege, pointing out that while other people along the road have died from various causes, the community has not suffered a loss like this. 鈥淭his is such a tragedy; that level of tragedy is uncommon for us and it touched a lot of people.鈥�

Anyone who would like to have petition forms available to sign, should send Miege an email at david@bastionranch.com.