Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper says the passing of fellow MLA Manmeet Bhullar has opened his eyes to the fragility of life and the importance of family.
A memorial service for Bhullar, 35, was held Nov. 29 in Calgary. He was killed Nov. 23 along Highway 2 north of Red Deer, when struck by a semi-truck that had lost control. At the time, Bhullar was helping another motorist who had ended up in the ditch.
During an interview with the Albertan, Cooper noted he and Bhullar were the same age, 35.
“Obviously it's a tremendous loss for Alberta. Manmeet Bhuller was a great MLA, despite us not seeing the world exactly eye to eye,” Cooper said.
“He was a passionate defender of the vulnerable and of Albertans and of this province and we were all deeply saddened by the tragic car accident that ended his life.
“Mahmeet and I were both 35 years old and it was a pretty tough day around the legislature (on the day he died) and then again when we paid tribute to him in the house,” he added.
“One of the things that really hit home for me was (the night he got killed) when I got to go home to my family, something that Manmeet didn't have the same opportunity to do.
“It's just really shone a light on the importance of those things and to not get our priorities wrong,” Cooper said.
"One of the things that really hit home for me was (the night he got killed) when I got to go home to my family, something that Manmeet didn't have the same opportunity to do."NATHAN COOPEROLDS-DIDSBURY-THREE HILLS MLA
