Photography was his life, and it was with photos that friends and family celebrated Chuck Chin's life Sunday, Aug. 4.
It was held at Cottonwood Island Nature Park Sunday with the unveiling and official dedication of a specially designed bench overlooking the Fraser River and the CN Rail bridge that Chin photographed so many times.
Chin, 73, was retired from his job as an operating engineer at the Intercon Pulp Mill steam plant. He documented the positive side of Prince George and its people through thousands of photographs that he shared freely on social media. He died suddenly in January.
The 150 people at Chuck Chin’s celebration of life lined up to have their pictures taken through a heart-shaped cutout in the new wooden bench installed at the late photographer's favourite spot.
The event also included music, food trucks, face painting, the Khast’an drummers and remarks by MLA Shirley Bond, Mayor Simon Yu and David Mothus, founder of the Hell Yeah Prince George Facebook page and an admin of the page with Chin, who died in January.
The bench, created by the city to commemorate Chin, features a protecting roof and tall back to keep the elements off while relaxing. The back features a cutout heart that faces river and bridge making a perfect frame for pictures.
David Mothus, Hell Yeah PG admin and close friend of Chin's, had arranged for photographer Connor Westergard take pictures of those in attendance through the heart to create a collage to memorialize the day.
