Sicamous and surrounding community is reeling from the sudden death of Eagle River Secondary principal Lyle Chapman on Thursday, Nov. 14, with condolences and special memories being shared. 

Though School District 83 hasn鈥檛 released an official statement, the board took a moment to remember the man who made a big impact with his students.

鈥淟yle was a ray of bright light, and he had a smile that would just make everyone feel good when they came into contact with him,鈥� chair Corryn Grayston said, fighting tears at the Nov. 19 board meeting. 鈥淗e was so engaged, and so interested in who you were. He just was an amazing individual.鈥�

Those qualities also extended to his students, with Grayston adding that when he interacted with students it was with real interest, and 鈥測ou knew he knew who these kids were.鈥�

In a Facebook post, student mom Katrina Frances Foster recalled how Chapman would make silly Tik Tok videos with kids, check in with them and make sure 鈥渢hey had the mentor they needed for the hard years of high school.鈥�

In a statement released by Mayor Colleen Anderson on behalf of council and staff, she acknowledged his death as 鈥渁 tremendous loss for our entire community,鈥� indicating the impact Chapman had even beyond school walls. 

As memories and comments flood social media, Grayson acknowledged there many such stories and anecdotes out there in the lives he touched.

鈥淭here鈥檚 so much more that needs to be said and honoured about Lyle... but I just want to say on behalf of the board, I just want to express our sincere and most profound condolences to his family,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have lost a superstar, but we will never forget that superstar.鈥�