Western Legacy Award Winners

In celebration of the Calgary Stampede’s Centennial, 100 outstanding individuals from across Alberta received the prestigious Western Legacy Award at a gala presentation on Stampede Park this evening. The recipients have all had a significant impact within their communities and are being honoured for their outstanding contributions in promoting western values and preserving western heritage.

“When you review the list of Western Legacy Award recipients, you have to feel proud of the Alberta history they represent,” said Paul Valentine, Western Legacy Award committee chair. “Our province has been blessed with community-minded individuals who have created a better place for all of us.”

The judges looked at nominees from all walks of life – from artists and athletes to community leaders and teachers – who have all made a major contribution to Alberta through their western values including hospitality, commitments to community, pride of place and integrity. Nominees did not need to be connected to the Calgary Stampede.

“We had an amazing 2012 Calgary Stampede and the Western Legacy Awards are a wonderful way to celebrate our Centennial year, by recognizing 100 outstanding Albertans for their community contributions,” says Bill Gray, vice-chairman, Calgary Stampede Board of Directors. “Looking back to 1912, we are reminded that the visionaries who dreamed – and financed – the first Stampede were focused on building and creating a community. One hundred years later, community is still the focus of the Stampede.”

In past years, the Calgary Stampede’s volunteer-run Western Legacy Awards committee has presented three or four outstanding Albertans with a Western Legacy Award. In honour of the Stampede’s Centennial, the committee expanded the awards to honour 100 Albertans.

 

Following is a list of the 100 Western Legacy Award recipients and a brief description of their achievements:

100 Outstanding Albertans

Aberhart, William – Teacher, political visionary, and Premier

Albright, W.D – Experimental farmer and promoter, Peace River country

Baines, Tom – Zookeeper and educator

Baldwin, Dermot – Advocate and provider for the homeless

Banks, Tommy – Musician, broadcaster, and Alberta Foundation for the

Performing Arts

Barclay, Catherine – Co-founder, Canadian hostelling movement

Barclay, Mary – Co-founder, Canadian hostelling movement

Bennett, R.B. – Prime Minister and philanthropist

Brandt, Paul – Musician, philanthropist, and volunteer

Bright, Johnny – Football player, educator, and coach

Burns, Patrick – Rancher, industrialist, and philanthropist

Calhoun, Alexander – Librarian and community builder

Carse, Ruth – Founder of Alberta Ballet

Chalmers, Robert – Community builder, rancher, and volunteer

Chumir, Sheldon – Lawyer, civil liberties advocate, and community builder

Church, Bob – Scientist, rancher, and Calgary Stampede president

Cohen, Martha – Social worker, fundraiser, and philanthropist

Collins, Bill – Cutting horse trainer and rodeo champion

Cross, Alfred Ernest – Industrialist, rancher, and community builder

Crowchild, David – Tsuu T’ina Chief and community leader

Decoteau, Alex – Policeman, athlete, and soldier

Dempsey, Hugh A. -Historian, museum builder, and First Nations advocate

Dion, Joseph Francis – Teacher, historian, and Metis leader

Eagle Speaker, Evelyn – Stampede Queen

Edwards, Bob – Newspaper publisher and social reformer

Edwards, Henrietta Muir – Artist, social reformer, and crusader for women’s rights

Elliott, W.J. – Educator and founder of Alberta’s 4-H movement

Erickson, LaVerne – Founder, Rosebud Centre of the Arts

Ethell, Donald S – Soldier, Lieutenant-Governor, and advocate for veterans

Fraser, Fil – Broadcaster, filmmaker, and human rights champion

Gale, Annie – Consumer advocate, politician, and social reformer

Gissing, Roland – Pioneer western Canadian artist

Gladstone, James – First Nations leader and senator

Gorman, Ruth – Lawyer, publisher, and advocate for First Nations rights

Gray, James H. – Social historian

Hart, Stu – Wrestling promoter and mentor

Harvie, Eric L. – Businessman, community builder, and philanthropist

Hays, Harry – Rancher, community builder, and politician

Hess, Marmie – Educator and promoter of First Nations art and culture

Hole, Lois – Horticulturalist, university chancellor, and Lt.-Gov.

Hughes, Katherine – Missionary, author, and archivist

Hull, William Roper – Rancher, businessman, and philanthropist

Hurtig, Mel – Publisher and political activist

Irvine, William – Unitarian minister and socialist politician

Jackson, Mary Percy – Pioneer northern physician

Jackson, Tom – Actor and philanthropist

Johnston, Alex – Agricultural scientist and historian

Kawamura, Yutetsu – Community leader and Lethbridge’s Japanese garden champion

Keating, Brian – Broadcaster, educator, and wildlife expert

King, Frank – Chairman and CEO, XV Olympic Winter Games

Knowlton, Gerald – Developer, volunteer, and railway preservationist

Kroetsch, Robert – Writer, poet, and literary critic

Kwong, Norman – CFL football player, businessman, and Lt.-Gov.

Lane, George – Farmer, rancher, and stockmen’s advocate

Laurie, John – Educator and advocate for First Nations rights

Leighton, Barbara – Artist and founder of the Leighton Art Centre

Linder, Herman – Rodeo champion and promoter

Lougheed, E. Peter – Premier and political visionary

MacEwan, J.W. Grant – Author, environmentalist, Mayor, and Lt.-Gov.

MacKenzie, Jack – School board chair and Marigold Foundation benefactor

Manning, Preston – Political visionary

Markin, Allan P – Community builder and philanthropist

McCaig, Ann – University chancellor, philanthropist, and volunteer

McClung, Nellie – Politician, social reformer, and crusader for women’s rights

McDonald, Lanny – NHL hockey player and volunteer

McKinney, Louise – Politician, social reformer, and crusader for women’s rights

McTavish, Douglas Craig – Northern missionary and educator

Mitchell, Betty – Community theatre pioneer

Mitchell, W.O – Author, playwright, and performer

Murphy, Emily – Judge, social reformer, and crusader for women’s rights

Nicoll, Marion – Artist and educator

O’Connor, Ed – Entrepreneur, volunteer, and Calgary Stampede president

Page, J. Percy – Basketball coach, politician, and Lt.-Gov.

Pannekoek, Frits – Historian, educator, and communications innovator

Parlby, Irene – Politician, social reformer, and crusader for women’s rights

Peel, Bruce – Librarian and bibliographer

Perrott, Stan – Artist, teacher, and mentor

Powell, Greg – Physician and founder of STARS Air Ambulance

Rahman, Abdul – Physician, community leader, and volunteer

Read, Ken – Alpine ski racer and charity fundraiser

Reader, William R – Developer of Calgary’s parks system

Richardson, Ernest L – Agricultural spokesman and Calgary Stampede manager

Russell, Andy – Author, mountain guide, and conservationist

Sheppard, Bert – Cowboy, rancher, writer, and philanthropist

Shoctor, Joe – Community builder and founder of Citadel Theatre

Smith, Arthur – Businessman, war hero, and politician

Steinhauer, Ralph G – First Nations leader and Lt.-Gov.

Tewksbury, Mark – Swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, and gay rights advocate

Thiessen, Ed – Rancher and veterinary innovator

Thrasher, Kate – Entrepreneur, community builder, and volunteer

Tory, Henry Marshall – First president of the U of A

Walking Buffalo – Bearspaw Stoney Chief and peace ambassador

Weadick, Guy – Stampede legend and promoter

Whalen, Ed – Broadcaster and volunteer

Wheeler, Arthur O – Co-founder, Alpine Club of Canada

Whyte, Catharine Robb – Painter and philanthropist

Winspear, Francis – Businessman, philanthropist, and political reformer

Wittner, Dianne – Wildlife biologist, conservationist, and broadcaster

Wood, Henry Wise – Farm leader, philosopher, and political visionary

Wood, Kerry – Wildlife author and conservationist