City of Steinbach Council joins the entire community in extending our sincere sympathies to the loved ones of former resident and Town Councillor, Jake Epp.
Epp was elected to Town Council in 1970, then appointed to Deputy Mayor by former Mayor A.D. Penner. From 1972 to 1993, Epp then went on to serve as a dedicated Member of Parliament for the Provencher riding.
“Simply put, the man is a living legend,” shared Steinbach Deputy Mayor, Michael Zwaagstra, at the July 2 Council Meeting while recounting hearing Epp speak at this year’s Mennonite Heritage Village Gala on June 27th, “Epp is a great example of someone who went into politics for the right reasons, made a positive difference while there, and got out with his integrity intact.”
While a part of the House of Commons, Epp held high-profile cabinet positions such as the Minister of National Health and Welfare, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. He was also Chairman of the Committee on Federal-Provincial Relations and participated in cabinet committees including Priorities and Planning, Economic and Trade Policy, Social Policy and Foreign and Defense Policy.
“Jake Epp was an inspiration to all of us in politics. He worked hard for the region, and he was an instrumental force in our community’s growth,” says Mayor Funk. “He was raised in Steinbach, right on Main Street, invested in our youth as an educator, served on Council, and then went on to represent Steinbach and the Southeast for over twenty years at the national level. Despite all his successes, he remained humble and grounded, never forgetting his roots.”
Mayor Funk and City Council wish to recognize former Councillor Jake Epp by lowering the Canadian flag at Steinbach City Hall to half-mast starting today, Monday, July 7 until the day of the funeral service to be held in Epp’s honour.
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