The recent deaths of several former area municipal council members has sparked a cascade of official acts and remembrances.
Mountain View County council held a moment of silence on Wednesday, Aug. 14 for former county councillor John ‘Jack’ Emory Peck, who died on July 26 at the age of 87.
“Jack Peck was a remarkable individual whose dedication and service greatly impacted our community. His legacy of hard work and commitment will be remembered and cherished by all who knew him,” reeve Angela Aalbers said in a prepared statement.
A celebration of Peck’s life will be held at the Olds Royal Canadian Legion on Aug. 27.
To honour Peck's memory, Mountain View County flags will be flown at half-mast on Aug. 26 and 27.
Family plans to have a tree planted in his memory at the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area.
Peck was born in Didsbury on Nov. 5, 1936. His family farmed in the Didsbury and then resettled in the Hainstock area west of Olds in the early 1940s.
Peck started a career with Shell Canada in 1954, retiring from the company in 1989. After a period in Buck Lake after retirement, Peck and his wife returned to the Olds area. Upon returning to Olds, Peck's family said he assumed a role on the council for Mountain View County for two terms; "work he enjoyed very much."
He served as a councillor from 1992 to 1998 and as deputy reeve from 1995 to 1998.
Pat Newman
Innisfail also lost a former council member recently.
Patricia ‘Pat’ Newman died on Aug. 15 at the age of 90.
Town of Innisfail Mayor Jean Barclay expressed deepest condolences on behalf of town council.
Barclay called Newman an “incredible trailblazer” in the community.
She was the first woman to be elected to Innisfail’s municipal council in 1980 and also was elected as Innisfail’s first woman mayor in 1988, Barclay noted.
In addition to Newman's service in an elected official capacity, Barclay said she was an ardent volunteer for decades, serving organizations such as the Innisfail Christmas Bureau, Rotary Annes, Innisfail Library, the Innisfail Figure Skating Club and many more. She was also awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Award from the Rotary Club of Innisfail, reflecting Rotary’s motto “service above self.”
“Pat represented class, grace, integrity, and intelligence. She will be dearly missed, and we are keeping her family and friends in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time,” Barclay’s prepared statement concluded.
A celebration of Newman’s life will be held at a later date.
Meanwhile, the flags at the Town of Didsbury administration office were recently flown at half-mast in honour of Rocky View County employee Colin Hough.
Hough was killed in a shooting that occurred around noon on Aug. 6 at Range Road 282 and Township Road 250, west of Calgary in Rocky View County.
It is believed that Hough stopped to help after coming upon a burning vehicle. One suspect has been arrested and one suspect remains at large.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends and co-workers,” the town posted on social media.
The Town of Didsbury’s protocol called for flags to remain at half-mast until sunset on the day of Hough’s funeral, which was Sunday, Aug. 18.
