A woman who left an indelible mark on British Columbia’s political scene recently passed away just shy of her 92nd birthday.
Former city councillor Yvonne Cocke (nee McRae) passed away peacefully on Jan. 19 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. A Saskatchewan native, Cocke moved to B.C. with her family as a teen and eventually settled in New Westminster with her husband Dennis.
Daughter Alison Hazelwood said her mother really enjoyed her two terms as a city councillor, but her true passion was for policy making and the organization side of policies.
“When I think about Yvonne, I remember a vivacious, intelligent, caring woman. A woman in many ways ahead of her time,” said former New Westminster MLA and MP Dawn Black. “She made valuable contributions to our community, our province and our country.”
Black said Yvonne and Dennis Cocke “were already the stuff of legends” when she first became involved in community organizing and politics in New West.
“They were known in the B.C. NDP as the Cocke Machine,” Black said. “At one convention, buttons sprouted up saying, ‘Unplug the Cocke Machine,” which was a testament to their phenomenal organizing ability.”
Black said many younger women owe their success to Cocke as she blazed a trail in the NDP and the community for others to follow. Politically, she credits Cocke for being a top-notch political organizer and leaving no stone unturned to ensure she became the federal NDP candidate in 1988. Personally, she recalls a woman who prepared meals for Black’s family when her son was diagnosed with cancer.
“She was a wonderful, supportive, loyal person, who you could always count on. In politics and the friendships you make in politics, that’s so often not the case,” said former MLA Graeme Bowbrick. “That’s why I always considered her and Dennis to be more important on the personal side than the political side. Those are the types of traits you value forever, not just politically.”
Bowbrick said Cocke was a mentor, who offered great support, perspective and counsel during and after his time in office. While Dennis served as New Westminster’s MLA, he said Yvonne was just as influential politically.
“She was a complete powerhouse unto herself,” he said. “Yes, she was on city council in New Westminster, but her official political career isn’t really a proper testament to her authority and influence. The influence was about much more than New Westminster.”
Cocke also served as a director on several boards such as Vancity Savings, Royal Columbian Hospital, the New Westminster YM/YWCA and the Simon Fraser University board of governors.
A celebration of Cocke’s life will be held on Sunday, April 24 at Centennial Lodge, from 2 to 5 p.m.
