ALBERTA CHAMPIONS SOCIETY HONOURS SIX

“Without heroes and champions, we are all just plain people” was the lasting message delivered by Alberta Champions Society president and founder Gordon Hoffman, Q.C. at the Field of Fame Five unveiling at Heritage Park Sept. 15.

We are truly blessed to live in a city — and province — that has no shortage of those who have made significant contributions in shaping and building our community. And recognizing these amazing individuals is what the Field of Fame is all about.

Scores of guests gathered at Heritage Park on a glorious summer’s day to celebrate the fifth installation of steel “sheaves of wheat” reaching 13 feet in the air. Each sheave bears the name of the most recent Albertan honoured.

The recent installation — others are located in Jamieson Place, Harley Hotchkiss Gardens, Hyatt Regency Hotel and McDougall Centre- paid tribute to these six outstanding individuals: Wilf Carter; Dr. Clara Christie Might; Harry Hays; Harley Hotchkiss; Sam Livingston; and Chief Walking Buffalo. These champions join other “Field of Famers” the likes of: R.B. Bennett; Grant MacEwan; Arthur Smith; Frederick C. Mannix; Peter Lougheed; Nellie McClung; and Annie Gale, to name but a few.

Highlights of the ceremony were numerous including: greetings from Chief of the Chiniki Nakoda Nation Aaron Young, MLA Anam Kazim, Chief Darcy Dixon, Chief of the Bearspaw First Nation and society director John Currie, among others. Others in attendance this day included: Dan Hays and his wife Kathy and his daughter Carol Hays; Rebecca Hotchkiss and her family Richard, Jeff and Sheryl Hotchkiss and Brenda(Mackie); Eva and JJ Hoffman; Livingston descendants Rory and Dusty Wilson and Aaron Ferris; Rosie Crawler and Narvil Kooteneygreat, great grandchildren of Chief Waling Buffalo; past Calgary mayors Al Duerr and Rod Sykes; Renoir Management’s Tim Down; Alberta Champions director Ruth Ramsden-Wood, who recognized the winners of the student contest for grades 4 to 9; MLA’s Dave Rodney, Ric McIver and Sandra Jansen; and society directors Gordon Olsen, Connie Ostermann and Ian Beddis.

PHOTOS: BILL BROOKS A glorious mid-September day was the perfect backdrop for the Alberta Champions Field of Fame Five installation at Heritage Park. Pictured, from left, are Alberta Champions founder and president Gordon Hoffman, Q.C., his wife Eva and their son, JJ...

Legendary philanthropist and business tycoon Harley Hotchkiss was one of six honorees recognized at the installation. Pictured, from left, are Sheryl Hotchkiss and her husband, Harley’s son Jeff Hotchkiss, Harley’s widow Rebecca Hotchkiss and Harley...

The late, great Sam Livingston was one of the six legendary Albertans honoured. Pictured, from left, are Champions president and founder Gordon Hoffman, Q.C., with Livingston descendants Rory and Dusty Wilson and Aaron Ferris.

The late, great Chief Walking Buffalo was one of the six legendary Albertans honoured. Pictured are the Chief’s great, great grandchildren, Rosie Crawler and Narvil Kootenay.

A glorious late summer day proved the perfect setting for the installation at Heritage Park. The late, great Harry Hays was one of six honourees recognized this day. Pictured, from left, are Kathy Hays and her husband, Sen. (Ret.) Dan Hays, son of...