‘Mr. Regina’ had huge impact on the city’s growth
Gord Staseson, a Member of the Order of Canada and a lifelong champion of all things Regina, died of natural causes Saturday at age 93.
Staseson was closely involved with countless community-related initiatives, ranging from sports to business to civic venues.
“He had a huge impact on the development and growth of our city,” Mayor Michael Fougere said Monday. “He was an amazing individual who had a lot of vision and energy and who liked to get things done. He was quite remarkable.
“He’s a real titan of development for the city.”
One development, in fact, includes his name. A dedication ceremony for Gordon Staseson Boulevard, located in the Fairways West area, was held in 2005.
“I don’t think there’s any community in Canada that’s had as much involvement of a single person in every single thing that has gone on in this city,” Paul Hill, president and CEO of Harvard Developments, said at the ceremony. “He’s just been an incredible contributor.”
Staseson was prominent in sporting and civic endeavours dating back to the 1930s, when he first played hockey in the Regina Abbotts organization. He went on to play professional hockey in the United States and later played forward for the Regina Capitals. Into his ’70s, he was still coaching minor hockey.
That is merely scratching the surface when it comes to the breadth of Staseson’s immersion in and devotion to the city he so proudly called home.
“The only child of Romanian immigrants, he grew up knowing hard work, how to be enterprising, and loved this city,” his daughter, Rae Staseson, said Monday.
Staseson was honoured many times over as a builder in sporting circles and in the community.
He played a key role in the construction of the Agridome (now the Brandt Centre), Canada Centre and Queensbury Centre, chairing the building committee for each project.
In a leadership role, he was involved with the Regina Economic Development Authority (of which he was a founding member), Regina Exhibition Association, Saskatchewan Gaming Authority, Regina Construction Association, Regina and Region Home Builders Association, Regina Planning Commission, Queen City Kinsmen and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
He was the CFL team’s president from 1979 to 1981, a period in which an expanded Taylor Field opened and “Rider Pride” was born. In 1982, he was the chairman of the CFL’S board of governors.
Staseson co-founded the Roughriders’ Plaza of Honour, into which he was inducted in 1993.
“We are so thankful for the contributions Gordon made to our Club and to the larger Saskatchewan community,” the Roughriders said Monday in a statement that was posted on the team’s website. “We know we wouldn’t be where we are today without his vision and his guidance.”
An inductee into the Regina Sports Hall of Fame (2004) and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (2010), he also supported figure skating, golf, basketball and equestrian sports.
His diversity of his interests was evident in 1986, when he was the chairman of Skate Canada (held at the Agridome) and the commissioner of the Saskatchewan Pavilion at Expo 86 in Vancouver.
Staseson’s tireless efforts have been applauded many times over, such as when he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Regina (1989) and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (2004). He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2005.
“Gord was Mr. Regina and also Mr. Saskatchewan,” former Roughriders president Tom Shepherd said. “He was a champion of so much good that it is impossible to imagine that anyone could be so capable of single-handedly accomplishing so many outstanding achievements for his city and province.”
Staseson is survived by three children — Rae, Tom and Gaye — along with two grandchildren (Jeff and Brittney) and five great-grandchildren (Jordyn, Emily, Carter, Paige and Jacob).
“It’s a big loss to our city,” Fougere said, offering condolences to Staseson’s family. “When you get a chance to reflect upon what he did, it really is a remarkable achievement. He was a real visionary for our city.”
A private family gathering will be held in memory of Staseson, with a public celebration of his life to follow at a later date. Donations in his memory can be made to the Regina Humane Society.
He was an amazing individual who had a lot of vision and energy and who liked to get things done. He was quite remarkable MAYOR MICHAEL FOUGERE, SPEAKING ABOUT THE LATE GORD STASESON