Recognition is the appreciation for an achievement, service, or ability, and soon the people and organizations within the City of Cold Lake will have the opportunity to be recognized for their work.
The local Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee (RCAC) has been working on a Cold Lake Hall of Fame for a little over a year, to acknowledge the work and dedication of local organizations or individuals.
“I think a community is only as good as their volunteers,” said Mayor Craig Copeland, adding each group or person has something of value to add to the city, and the Hall of Fame identifies that.
“Whatever it is they are doing, they are part of making the quality of life better,” Copeland added.
The committee decided it was time to record the numerous accomplishments within the city, said Cold Lake's recreation manager Jim Fedyk.
He continued, “It inspires current residents to reach new heights. They have heroes to look up to, and they can say ‘hey, that guy was from Cold Lake and he made it to that level, so I can too, I can pursue that passion.'”
While they're traditionally a place to honour sports teams, the Cold Lake Hall of Fame will be all-inclusive to any individual or group who deserves to be recognized.
“I think it's a sad thing to lose your history. We are not just talking about individuals here, and we are not just talking about athletes either. This is a Hall of Fame that is for the arts and culture aspect too… sometimes that side of things doesn't get all of the glory that maybe a championship hockey team would,” explained Fedyk.
The project is expected to kick-off in the New Year, with nominations for inductees being accepted from January until May 1.
Members of the public can submit nomination forms, the RCAC will review the submissions and make recommendations to council. Council will then decide who will make it into the city's Hall of Fame.
“We really need the cooperation and the partnership of the people out there to do a little bit of work, to fill out the nomination form and maybe attach some old newspaper articles or give some information about the history on the team, organization, player, artist, or whoever, and what it is they have accomplished,” Fedyk said, adding if the community doesn't participate, “this thing won't go very far.”
There are five categories in total, with only two inductees per category each year. Nomination forms will be available at the Energy Centre, and at www.coldlake.com.
Each November, a ceremony will be held to formally induct everyone into the Hall of Fame.
The hall itself will be located in the Energy Centre, and although the details haven't been ironed out as to exactly where, they know it will be close to the new arena.
“The Energy Centre has become quite the hub here, and especially on the weekends. It has become a gathering place, not just for locals but for others that are coming to town,” Fedyk said.
The committee is currently brainstorming the particulars of how it will look, but have decided it will include a photo of the person or organization, along with a plaque detailing their history.
Working with the museum, they would also like to include displays, whether that includes pieces of sports equipment used at an important game or match, or something that holds another form of nostalgia for the city.
Fedyk said with the number of people who come and go from Cold Lake, this Hall of Fame will prove as a central place to learn about the history, the people, and the quirks of the city itself.
“There's no better way to share that, than to have it in a Hall of Fame.”
