Local commuters who frequent First Avenue NW will notice the street has now officially been honorarily named Myron Thompson’s Way.
About 80 people, including dignitaries as well as a group of students from River Valley School, attended the official unveiling and installation of one of several signs at the intersection of First Avenue and Third Street NW on Wednesday, Dec. 19 .
Once a Town of Sundre councillor and mayor as well as a member of Parliament who also invested many years as a local educator, Myron Thompson’s lengthy career touched the lives of many and played an influential role in the community.
Thompson, who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, was accompanied by his wife Dot.
Among the officials who spoke were Mayor Terry Leslie, MLA Jason Nixon as well as MP Earl Dreeshen.
“In 1974, not long after Myron moved to Sundre, he was elected as a town councillor,” said Leslie.
“It was during that term that the dikes through Sundre were built, and they have held through many floods. Myron’s passion for flood mitigation for the entire Red Deer River Watershed continued through his last term as councillor in 2017. Planning for the future of this community was Myron Thompson’s way,” said the mayor, who recounted many of Thompson’s accomplishments over the years.
Among the other numerous notches in Thompson’s belt was the Hay West Movement of 2002, when Alberta suffered a drought that prompted “the cowboy in the Stetson” to look east to Ontario where hay was abundant. In collaboration with Liberal MP Don Beaudria, Thompson hatched a plan that involved CN rail transporting — free of charge — hay to Alberta from Ontario, Leslie told the crowd.
“Myron Thompson’s way was to get the right people together and find solutions regardless of party lines, to do the right thing for the people of Canada that he served,” he said.
Thompson also played a role in pushing for the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway through Banff and Lake Louise.
“At the Banff Park Gate, Stephen Harper, Jim Prentice and Myron Thompson shared, and celebrated, in the announcement to twin the highway that we all enjoy safely today. That was Myron Thompson’s way,” said Leslie.
The mayor also sung the praises of Thompson’s wife Dot, “the wind beneath his wings” who over the years stood by his side to provide unfaltering support.
Concluding his address, Leslie said, “Myron Thompson’s Way is more than a street name. It is a model of personal sacrifice and service to others — for life.”
Dreeshen, MP for the Red Deer–Mountain View riding, recalled having worked with Thompson over the years and said, “I know just how well he is respected in Sundre and I know that when I came here in 2008 as the boundaries had changed, that he was the first person to welcome me and introduce me to people from Sundre and the town council.”
When Dreeshen first heard about the plan to name First Avenue NW in Thompson’s honour, the MP said, “I thought, ‘Well, it’s going to be one of the one-ways!’”
He continued, drawing laughter from the crowd, “And then I was thinking perhaps there will be a sign saying ‘no left turns’ — because you can always get to your destination by making three sharp rights.”
Dreeshen expressed pride in the work accomplished by Thompson and his wife “to make sure this community is as special as it is.”
Nixon, MLA for the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre constituency, said the mayor did well outlining Thompson’s accomplishments.
“We would be here a very long time if each of us spent all our time telling the Myron stories that we know,” said Nixon, drawing some more laughter.
“What I can tell you is that this community sure loves Myron Thompson, and we sure appreciate what he has done for us. He’s the only member of Parliament to come from Sundre, which is a significant accomplishment.”
Nixon pointed out that despite a split vote with another conservative candidate, when Thompson was elected to the federal stage, he won in a landslide with 86 per cent of the constituents’ votes, which showed “how much our community loves him.”
When the press sought a comment about that election victory upon his return to Ottawa at the time, Nixon said Thompson jokingly answered, “Yeah, we got a posse rounded up looking for the other 14 (per cent).”
Switching to a more serious note, Nixon said there’s no doubt that Thompson, who has been a political mentor for the MLA, was always primarily focused on Sundre.
“We’ve been blessed that he came here all those years ago,” he said.
“His accomplishments as a teacher, as a principal, as a mayor, as a parliamentarian, are significant.”
Directing his attention to Thompson, Nixon said, “one of your great gifts to us is how well you represented our community; I thank you for that…I just want you to know how much we love you and appreciate what you have done for us for the last 50 years,” he concluded to applause.
Before the gathering dispersed, Thompson requested the opportunity to speak.
Expressing his gratitude for those who came out, he said, looking around to the familiar faces surrounding him, that “it’s easy to be compassionate when you come from such a great compassionate community.”
Speaking to the River Valley School students, he said, “I want you to have great success.”
Expressing concerns about the future, Thompson said they deserve a better life.
“We’re going to count on you guys to carry the load when you come through the rope,” he said, welcoming any students who might be interested to stop by some time for a chat.
“Even if I don’t even know you, come by! I’ll talk with ya, I love it,” he said.
Formulating his next thought, Thompson went on to say how overwhelmed he was and that looking around the crowd there were many people who have contributed to the community and also deserve compassion and recognition.
“You and you and you and you — all around me,” he said fighting back a couple of tears that started to swell as he looked around the group.
“I’m surrounded with that. How can you lose in a community like that? I’m a winner,” he said.
“I just can’t say enough, so I’m gonna shut up!” he concluded, eliciting another round of laughter and applause before the group slowly parted after a few fond handshakes and hellos.
