It’s full steam ahead for Pemberton’s Spirit of B.C. Committee in the aftermath of the resignation of the committee’s chair, whose decision to step down was called “a case of volunteer burnout,” the group’s interim leader said this week.

For the past few years the Spirit of B.C. Committee has organized the Pemberton Winterfest celebration in February as part of the lead-up to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Michelle Murray, who served as the committee’s chair for the past nine months, resigned as chair last week, leaving Paul Selina as the interim chair until a new, permanent chair is named.

In a letter emailed to corridor media outlets last week, Murray wrote that her decision to resign from the past was a difficult one, adding, “Wanting nothing but the best for your community should not be a stressful endeavour. Wishing to create fun festivals, and engage the place you live, should not be an opportunity for criticism or underhanded attempts at slowing change.”

Reached by telephone, Murray declined to elaborate, saying she had signed a confidentiality agreement with the Pemberton Spirit of B.C. Committee’s board of directors.

The committee is run by the Pemberton and District Chamber of Commerce, which named Paul Selina as the committee’s interim chair upon accepting Murray’s resignation. Selina on Monday (June 29) praised Murray’s work and said he was saddened to learn of her decision to step down, but understood the reasons behind it.

“I think that Michelle is a special and talented individual who put on probably the most successful Winterfest that Pemberton has had to date,” Selina said. “Her passion runs so deep, and she put so much into it that it did affect her health.

“It’s a level of stress. Having spoken to Michelle personally, I believe it to be a case of volunteer burnout.”

Selina said the Chamber, under the leadership of President Sandy Ryan, will be responsible for naming Murray’s permanent replacement. He did not provide a timeline.

“The organization will carry on, and we’ve got support from Michelle,” Selina said. “We fully understand why she’s decided to step down and we wish her all the best in the future.”