‘My heart is full’
Elinor Gill Ratcliffe given Freedom of the City
Elinor Gill Ratcliffe’s face beamed with pride Monday night as St. John’s Mayor Dennis O’Keefe presented her with the freedom of the city.
The philanthropist stood next to O’Keefe as he read the proclamation Monday.
“In her lifetime career, she has effected great change through her constant efforts to enrich the cultural heritage of her birthplace and the world around her. Her support to the arts, heritage, education, health care, families in need and human rights has made her impact on our city a great one. She is a true philanthropist,” O’Keefe read before going through a long list of her contributions and accomplishments.
Ratcliffe is a recipient of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Order of Canada, an honorary doctorate of law from Memorial University and the Red Cross Humanitarian Award.
She has donated a number of pieces of public art, including “The Spencer Girl” at Rawlins’ Cross, The Rower at Quidi Vidi Lake and the George Street sculpture, ‘Time’, which celebrates the city designation as the Canadian cultural capital. When the Newfoundland Realist Artists exhibited at city hall, she purchased the bulk of that collection and donated it to the city for display.
After receiving the medallion, an emotional Ratcliffe addressed members of council.
“I walked around our beautiful city today. I walked down Prescott Street, over Duckworth Street, around the Sheraton Hotel, Military Road and through Bannerman Park, and I was thinking as I walked how beautiful it is. How lucky we are to live in such a beautiful space, a beautiful city, and how lucky was I to have been nurtured and to have grown up in this space,” she said.
“And then I was thinking of this evening and this wonderful award, and my heart is full. I cannot tell you how proud I am to receive this medallion, this freedom of the city from my city. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”