In recognition of one of Sundre’s most famous and accomplished elected representatives who fought for his and his constituents' convictions on the local and federal levels, council agreed to name First Avenue Northwest in Myron Thompson’s honour.
Thompson is a former Town of Sundre councillor with several terms under his belt who, from 1974-1980 served as mayor, and was also a member of Parliament from 1993 to 2008. Additionally, he had previously invested many years as an educator, starting as a teacher and eventually becoming principal of Sundre High School.
Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer, informed council that she had recently discussed the possibility of the honorary road naming with Thompson and his wife, Dot.
“Myron was very humbled and said there was no need to do the honorary road naming,” she told council during the Nov. 19 meeting, which was also attended by Thompson’s sons Dennis Thompson, from Miles City, Mont., and Myron Thompson Jr., from Cobourg Ont., who was accompanied by his common-law partner Helen Collins.
If council so chose to proceed, Nelson said Thompson expressed a preference for First Avenue NW, which runs in front of his home and stretches from the former Foothills Lodge all the way west to the end of the road at a cul-de-sac.
That would involve installing about half a dozen signs, she said.
“We would do it as an honorary road name, so it would be a sign that would be placed on top of the existing street names,” she said.
“So people would not need to change their addresses or do anything that would cause them any inconvenience.”
Administration’s suggested course of action was to request council approve naming the road either Myron Thompson Way or Myron Thompson’s Way, she said, adding the latter option “has a nice meaning, and I think everybody understands why that might be appropriate, so that’s what we are recommending.”
Coun. Cheri Funke said she “would love to make that motion.”
“My personal opinion is that it needs to be named Myron Thompson’s Way because it was always his way, even if you don’t agree with him,” she said.
Addressing his sons, Funke added, “let Myron know how much he means to us. From the very beginning, from teaching our children and standing up for us in the province in Ottawa, he means a lot to us. And we want to show him what he means to us.”
Mayor Terry Leslie and Coun. Richard Warnock, although unable to attend the meeting in person, nevertheless participated by way of a conference call, and both were in favour of the motion.
"Myron Thompson’s Way is a fitting tribute to Myron,” said Leslie — who has previously said he considers Thompson a mentor — agreeing with Funke’s perspective.
The mayor expressed gratitude to Myron Jr. and Dennis for attending on behalf of their father.
“Please convey, on our behalf, to him how deeply meaningful he has been to all of us on council and as members of the community for all of the work that he has done. Provincially, federally, the things that he has accomplished as a member of our community have never been done by anybody else in our history.”
The motion to name First Avenue NW Myron Thompson’s Way carried unanimously.
Coun. Paul Isaac, who chaired the meeting as deputy mayor, said words alone could not come close to adequately expressing how much Myron and Dot mean to the community.
“That relationship has been here for years,” said Isaac, encouraging people to have a visit with Thompson over a Popsicle.
Myron Jr. asked for a brief moment to address council, and said his father wanted to attend the meeting but was unable to because of his ailing condition.
“On behalf of our family, I would just like to thank you guys; it’s a huge honour,” he said.
“It’s a very nice thing, and we are honoured for him to be our father.”
