Brian Mallett, the City of Revelstoke's Director of Engineering and Public Works, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on the evening of Sunday, May 6. He was just 50 years old.
First responders including a fire truck and an ambulance responded to his home on Sixth Street East on Sunday. They could be seen rushing in and out of the home while attempting to revive him.
Those who worked with Mallett at city hall knew him as an affable professional who tackled his broad-ranging, considerable and sometimes political workload with patience, an easy-going attitude and a penchant for its intellectual and engineering challenges.
Mallett worked for the B.C. Ministry of Forests in Revelstoke before moving to another position in Alberta. He then relocated back to Revelstoke to take on the job as engineering director.
Revelstoke mayor David Raven worked with Mallett at the forests ministry and again later at city hall.
"I'm devastated," Raven told the Times Review. "Brian was a good personal friend. I enjoyed working with him, not only at the city but also at the forest service before that. My heart goes out to Colleen and the boys. I'm truly saddened by it and he's going to be really missed at the city."
The Mallett family was in the midst of an extensive renovation to their heritage home on Sixth Street. He is survived by his wife Colleen and their two boys Mackenzie, 14, and Hayden, 10.
Raven said Mallett was committed to improving the city through his work. "I found him to be very professional," Raven said. "He was intelligent and very dedicated to his job and to the city and did everything he could for the betterment of the city."
City chief administrative officer Tim Palmer said city hall staff are "in shock" over the news today.
"He brought a professionalism that was really, very outstanding," Palmer said of Mallett. "His services as engineer will be incredibly missed. He did an awesome job for the city.
"He was an awesome team player. He listened well, he was open to new ideas," Palmer said. "As a professional engineer, he brought that professionalism but was open to listening to new ideas and innovative approaches to problems."
Palmer also said Mallett was dedicated to this community, saying he was committed to the "City of Revelstoke and making it the best place he possibly could with his contributions."
***
Update: At the May 8 Revelstoke city council meeting, Mayor David Raven announced city hall would close at noon on Friday, May 11 so that city staff can attend Brian Mallett's funeral. City hall will reopen Monday morning.
Mallett's funeral service is at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 11 at the Revelstoke United Church on the corner of Third Street and Mackenzie Avenue.