I am happy, as this week I received confirmation from one of my two fans that they do in fact read my musings in this space. I won't say who it is, but rather pass along an idea she had.
The idea has to do with the Walk of Fame, for which the city's Walk of Fame committee has picked two people to be honoured this summer, out of seven names nominated.
Apparently one of those rejected was nominated by my reader, and she's wondering why, given his level of contribution to the City of Weyburn and its beauty, particularly in the summertime. The person she nominated was former parks planner Dan Bruinooge, a name any long-time city resident should readily recognize.
As "The Reader" pointed out to me, Dan "toiled extra-long hours daily, as well as always responding to after-hours calls to advise about trees and yards. There were those who opposed his plans as well as those who didn't care. But today and for the future, we are grateful for Tatagwa Parkway and the 16th Street trees, to name just two of his accomplishments."
Part of the reason there are so many trees in Weyburn is due to the work and planning of Dan Bruinooge, who was still here when I first arrived in the city in the mid-90s, and you can partially credit him for the beauty and greenery this city has every summer.
So, for the legacy he left this city, I can agree with the idea of honouring him, but in looking up the criteria for the Walk of Fame, I don't think he quite fits. To quote the city's website, the individual nominated must have "individually achieved national or international accolades in an athletic or other competitive endeavour, (or) achieved a standard of excellence in a cultural, academic or humanitarian field, or achieved fame in their field of endeavour."
Besides all that, they must have lived here for a minimum of five years. Thus, the first three people were most fitting: Tommy Douglas, the former premier and father of medicare; novelist W.O. Mitchell; and NHLer Dave "Tiger" Williams.
Now, there should be a way to honour Mr. Bruinooge, and here I would suggest two: one, the Wall of Fame at the Soo Line Museum; and two: a park, such as at the Souris Valley grounds, should be named in his honour.
See, he left us a legacy that has turned Weyburn into a veritable oasis on the Prairies; so, why not give him some recognition for that legacy by naming a park in his honour? This is only my opinion, mind you, but I think this is a man who deserves to be recognized in some way. What do you think?
