Ten new names are now etched on the monument at the northwest corner of Sir Winston Churchill Avenue and Perron Street after the city’s Community Recognition Awards were handed out on Thursday evening.
Ten new names are now etched on the monument at the northwest corner of Sir Winston Churchill Avenue and Perron Street after the city’s Community Recognition Awards were handed out on Thursday evening.
Former teacher and musician Bertha Kennedy was the lone inductee in the arts and culture category while eight names were unveiled in the category of citizenship/community builder. They are:
• former mayor Ronald Harvey
• former mayor Ray Gibbon
• Dr. W.D. Cuts, who helped establish the United Church and Protestant school district
• Dr. Fin Fairfield, founder of the Big Lake Environmental Support Society
• Bill Hite, co-founder of the local Kinsmen chapter
• businessman and community leader Angus J. MacDonald
• historical educator Eric Robinson
• community organizer Glynis Thomas
The Gazette Press was named in the pillar of business award.
“St. Albert has a long history of involved residents making a difference in the way of life in the community from its earliest days right up to our present day,” said Mayor Nolan Crouse, as he presided over the ceremony.
“They have enhanced the quality of life in the community or enhanced the image of the community. In many instances, they’ve done both.”
Preserved for eternal posterity
The 10 names have been etched into the surface of one of the distinctive basalt boulders located at the site. The monument is the work of Calgary artist Terry Reynoldson. At the ceremony, he talked about the work and what the undulating curves really mean.
“At first when I created the design for this piece, I thought that it had something to do with the Sturgeon River. In my imagination, what I thought was that there was a mighty river … lots of waves and torrents. Then I actually went down and sat down beside it. There were no waves at all,” he said, much to the crowd’s delight. “I had to rethink what this work was really about.”
He explained further that people have broader social impacts, like how a pebble dropped into still water creates ripples.
“Each of us when we go through our daily routines, we affect everything around us,” he said. “Those ripples have spread outward and have touched other people and have created goodwill and positive things. The end result, after many years, is of course this wonderful community that you have that’s just getting better and better.”
Rock stars
Although several of the honourees were receiving posthumous inductions, a few were present in the crowd to accept their heavy trophies themselves.
Recently retired from his medical practice, the 74-year-old Fairfield expressed gratitude for being included in such austere company.
“It’s very pleasant to see my name up there with a lot of old friends,” he said. “I was looking at the list and I took care of most of them.”
Thomas had a similar reaction. The executive director at the Community Information and Volunteer Centre is an active volunteer behind the scenes.
“I’m very humbled by this,” she said. “I think it’s a wonderful recognition for the community. I’m very humbled by the number of people who are here with me. When you take a look at what everybody has done, you know that so many have made such a difference. I’m in great company.”
This is the second year that the city has recognized prominent citizens with these awards. Crouse ended the ceremony by asking for new submissions for next year. The city intends to add new names to the monuments every year. Details can be found on the city’s website at www.stalbert.ca.
