Darrel Stinson: Rebel with a cause

Darrel Stinson is a fighter, a rebel with a cause.
This 59-year-old silver-haired maverick, who announced his retirement from politics the other day, is ready to battle bladder cancer with the zeal of a John Wayne.
So don't count him out just yet.
In another era, Stinson, the man always photographed in the cowboy hat, would have been the Duke's sidekick, riding off to right the wrongs in The West.
He's a man's man -- nothing "sissified" like some of his political brethren. And he, freely, admits he had a temper.
That temper gained him a certain notriety in the mamby-pamby circles that invade the Canadian Parliament.
Back in 1997, MP John John Cannis stood up in the House and called Stinson a "racist."
BOOM!
Stinson exploded in rage.
"Now, I hear the word "racist" from that side," he bellowed. "Do you have the fortitude to stand up and come across here to say that to me? Come on ..."
At this time, Stinson leaped over a table and got in Cannis' face and yelped: "That (expletive deleted), Mr. Speaker, called me a racist ..."
The House members and the Speaker were astounded by the outburst.
Stinson smiled slightly in relating the story, saying there was a three-minute video of the incident, which has never been seen. "Someday, when the time is right, I will release it."
As a teenager, Stinson became involved in the secretive "Cascades" revolutionary movement.
In the mid-70s, malcontents were prevalent in Western Canada and into the Pacific Coast states such as Washington and Oregon, railing against the dictatorial policies of centralized governments.
These revolutionary movements ranged from "talkers" in provinces such as Alberta and B.C. to actual rebels in Oregon and Washington state, who toted guns and were set to battle, not unlike the armed "Minutemen." The movement died or fizzled after a TV broadcaster infiltrated the group and exposed them, or so I am told.
There were lean and fat years for Stinson; he has been a trapper, setting his lines; a rancher out in the B.C. sticks. That venture ended in disaster with a massive fire devastating his property.
Overoming such a disaster, he "pooled" his resources and much to his wife, Cicely's chagrin decided the only way to change the repression of the West was to join the Big Boys in Ottawa.
With his direct style, Stinson stomped into Parliament. And over the years, he has showed that he's a man of compassion with a down-to-earth style.
The last time I saw Darryl Stinson -- in person -- he was in church.
Then so was I.
Following the August 2003 fires which swept through the Okanagan and, in particular, the Whispering Pines (misnamed Cedar Hills) area, near Falkland, devastated farmers and ranchers pleaded for some financial relief from the politicians, including the region's MLA George Abbott. They struck out.
However, Okanagan-Shuswap MP Stinson, although his "federal" hands were tied, was the only one to show up at the Falkland Community Church to find some answers.
After hearing about the Falkland-Whispering Pines losses, Stinson's face took on a John Wayne resolve.
"I'll find out what happened,"he said. "I'll raise a little (expletive deleted)."