Undeterred by Bowden council's April 8 decision to turn down a request to rename Bowden's arena in memory of Don “Choppy” Poynter, a trio of women are pressing on to have a community tribute established to honour their friend.
Council passed a motion at its regular meeting on July 22 to discuss the idea of a plebiscite concept on the renaming issue at the next council meeting on Aug. 12.
Poynter, who passed away in January, was a popular lifelong resident of Bowden who worked for many years for recreation departments in Bowden, Olds and Innisfail.
In March, Carla Radke, a former Bowden resident who was friends with Poynter for 35 years and now lives in Calgary, submitted a request to Bowden council to have the Bowden Igloo renamed the Don Poynter Memorial Arena.
In a letter to council, Radke stated Poynter had served on numerous boards in Bowden, was a member of several organizations and always gave to his community.
“He supported the businesses of Bowden and worked for the Town of Bowden for many years,” the letter states. “Choppy could be seen out all winter plowing driveways for seniors, businesses or friends and mowing empty lots or rototilling gardens for various people around town.
“Most of this was done out of the goodness of his heart. Choppy had a heart the size of Bowden and was very proud to call Bowden his home.”
Council deliberated Radke's request at its March 11 meeting and directed town staff to seek public input on the request through the town's newsletter.
The town received 11 responses opposed to the idea of renaming the arena and three responses in favour.
At its April 8 meeting, council discussed the request again and Andy Weiss, the town's chief administrative officer, said most of the respondents who opposed the renaming concept had suggested creating a memorial to Poynter within the arena such as a shadow box or a plaque.
He added that concerns were raised that there are other people in the community who are just as deserving of such recognition.
Coun. Sheila Church said at the time that there should be a tribute to Poynter, but such a memorial should not be a “town initiative.”
Coun. Wayne Milaney also suggested creating a memorial image of Poynter that could be applied to the arena's ice-surfacing machine.
Council ended up passing a motion denying Radke's request.
The motion, however, did state that council was “open to further deliberations in regards to an alternative memorial that is privately funded.”
At council's July 22 meeting, Radke appeared before council with her niece Jaleen and friend Tara Roth with an emotional plea for council to reconsider its decision.
The trio presented a petition signed by 273 people, including more than 100 people from Bowden, who are in favour of having the arena renamed for Poynter.
Roth, a Bowden resident who spoke on behalf of the trio, told council Poynter had made a difference in many lives in the community and he had “built his entire life” in Bowden.
Since he had given nine years of service to the arena and because the town had named a park in the community for a woman in the past, Roth asked council why they would turn down the renaming request.
“Our question is, ‘What is the harm?'” she said.
Mayor Robb Stuart said he knew Poynter and was aware he had more “good friends” than anyone else Stuart knows, but added other people deserve such a tribute as well and the community made it clear from the request for input on the renaming question that the current name should stay.
He also told the trio cost is a factor in any decision to rename the arena and asked if there was another idea for a tribute.
Overall, Stuart said, the request puts council “in an awkward position” because saying yes to the renaming request could open the doors for similar requests.
When Roth asked if other people had submitted requests for such tributes to council, Church said several people had but the answer is usually no so as not to single anyone out.
Coun. Sandy Gamble said many people involved in the building and maintaining of the arena did so out of the generosity of their heart and were not seeking recognition.
“And so did Don,” Stuart said.
As for Milaney's suggestion about honouring Poynter with a memorial on the arena's ice-surfacing machine, which was brought up again at the July 22 meeting, Radke told council it was “not enough.”
Stuart said the trio's petition, while impressive, did not hold much weight since under the Municipal Government Act, any petition considered would need to include the names of only Bowden residents.
Roth said the petition simply shows how many people loved Poynter and added the “town has come together on this issue more than any other in a long time.”
“We should be proud of this outpouring of support,” she said.
Stuart said that to truly make this a democratic process, Bowden voters would need to decide whether the arena is renamed and he suggested the idea of a plebiscite on the matter where a question about renaming the arena for Poynter could be included on the ballot during the October municipal election.
“That's the only fair way,” Gamble said.
Coun. Patrick Doll added holding a plebiscite on the matter would remove from the current council the burden of forcing the renaming issue on a future council.
