‘Lost space’ revitalized to honour ex-councillor
Edmonton recognized the work of its first openly gay politician and a hard-working community advocate Thursday by naming a new park on 104 Street Michael Phair Park.
“I’m very honoured, very pleased,” said Phair, who served on council from 1992 to 2007 and was instrumental in making the popular downtown 104 Street what it is today.
“It’s very surreal. Most people are dead before this happens,” added Phair, who also has a public school named after him in west Edmonton’s Webber Greens.
“It is quite amazing for me today,” he said. “Things like this should be done before people die more often so they have the opportunity to enjoy it a bit.”
Mayor Don Iveson and Coun. Scott McKeen helped unveil the new sign Thursday. The park is located just north of the former Sobeys store and is expected to be popular with shoppers at the 104 Street Saturday market.
“I have such love for this guy. He’s fantastic,” said Iveson, at the event, crediting Phair with hours of mentoring before he made his first run for council.
The pocket park is the result of lobby efforts from a group of community activists that labelled the spot “lost space” and sought to make the area more friendly through their “Alley of Light” art installations. The park will have permanent art work — Amiskwac i Waskayhkan Ihtawin (which means Beaver Hills House Park) — installed this spring. The new mural is by Destiny Swiderski.
McKeen, a city columnist for the Journal when Phair was on council, said he was one of the hardestworking politicians he met.
“He helped found the Edmonton Arts Council, the Edmonton Pride Festival. He championed bringing in hot lunch programs for inner city schools.
“He was also the first openly gay politician in Alberta and one of the first in Canada,” said McKeen, adding he used to push Phair to show him emails he received on that topic. “I can tell you, it was stunning to read the hate in those emails, to see a chap like this carry on, knowing there were people out there who felt that way about him. He proved the point, that sexual orientation is completely irrelevant in leadership and serving.”