Letter: Make Olympic park happen

To the editor:

In March 2010 I made a presentation to council the development in the theme for a special attraction to the area.

This was to consider and Olympic Park honouring our own 170 Olympic athletes in Northwestern Ontario. Not only was the focus on the athletes, but it would include a 100-foot Olympic ring. The beacon would be a great attraction on the harbour-front. This great form of art would be a special tribute to all of our Olympians and to our own community.

What a great attraction it would be for tourists to realize we are the centre of Olympic history. We definitely need something special to bring a new park theme to tell the many existing stories of our special Olympians.

Can we remember 1964, when Henry Akervall captained the Olympic hockey team, a true dedicated player who represented us in several international competitions.

How can we forget cyclist Curt Harnett, who won silver at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, and bronze in 1992 and 1996?

What about Dryden’s Chris Pronger, who brought home gold in 2002 as part of Canada’s men’s Olympic hockey team?

These are just a few of the stories that could be presented on a special wall. What a great story to tell our community.

Two years ago I had offers to financially contribute to the project, even by some of the Olympians.

The $900,000 labeled for the new art beacon could go a long way to bring this plan to fruition. At the time of the presentation not too many councillors even gave me a head nod. They were involved with other problems.

But now is the time.

I have contributed to community development in the past, including the Carrick Community Centre, the Kinsmen Northwood Centre and the Canoe Centre at Boulevard Lake.
The Olympic Park could still be a central attraction. It can be done.

Councillors, think about this development. It would not cost a lot, believe me.
 
Lorne Allard,
Thunder Bay
Lorne Allard is a former city councillor who served in the Red River Ward from 1992 to 2000.