Photo: Penticton Indian Band

UPDATE: 12:25 P.M.

The family of Dorothy Ward announced on Facebook on Thursday that Ward passed away in the morning.

Ward was the social worker for the Penticton Indian Band for nearly 35 years, as well as sitting on several boards and committees.

Ward received the Courage To Come Back award, which is put on by Coastal Mental Health, in 2000.

ORIGINAL: 11:44 A.M.

A respected elder in the Penticton Indian Band has died, postponing an all-candidates forum.

The forum was planned for Wednesday and Thursday evenings, but the family of the elder got a call during the pre-forum dinner to join the elder, who hasn't been named, at the hospital.

PIB spokeswoman Dawn Russell said with a population of less than 400 on the reserve, the death of someone respected touches everyone in the community.

"When something happens like that, we all just stop everything and come together," she said.

She said the elder was related to an electoral officer, but noted the event would have stopped for the woman regardless of whom she was related to.

"She was a language speaker, she was a beautiful woman," Russell said.

New dates for the forum have not been formalized, yet, but Russell said it could come as early as Oct. 7, but that won't be confirmed until next week.

The forum was set to provide a chance for the three candidates for chief to speak, including current Chief Jonathan Kruger, former councillor Chad Eneas and community member Joe Jack.

Councillor Clint George was previously nominated, but Castanet has learned that he has since dropped out of the race.