The officers were instrumental in bringing a standoff situation at an Airdrie pub to a safe resolution on Jan. 12. Two men who allegedly stole a truck in Calgary lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a light pole on the off-ramp from northbound Highway 2 to Yankee Valley Blvd. The men then fled the scene and climbed onto the roof of the Toad and Turtle Pubhouse & Grill on Market Street. Four hours later, after failed attempts to communicate with the suspects, members of the RCMP Emergency Response Team and a RCMP Police Service dog conducted a physical search of the roof area and safely located both suspects. No one was injured but patrons of the pub were kept in the building for four hours.
Ed Eggerer
Airdrie businessman and philanthropist Ed Eggerer, 69, died suddenly on March 17. Eggerer moved to Airdrie in 1980, where he served as the president and co-owner of Century 21 Castlewood Agencies, a role he kept for 17 years. Eggerer was a past president of Airdrie Chamber of Commerce, a founding member and past president of George McDougall High Schoolís S.O.S. society, which built two lotto houses in Airdrie and raised $60,000 for school activities.
In May, the Soul of Airdrie Award, which is given to an individual who embodies volunteerism in Airdrie and continually gives back to the community, was given in his name.
Cst. Dave Henry
The school resource liaison, left Airdrie in May after three years of working with students as a mentor. The officer was transferred to the Athabasca area.
He participated in school sports, field trips, band concerts and even helped out in spearheading the Ride of the Mustangs fundraiser. Students were sad to see him leave.
Blake Richards
Wild Rose MP Blake Richards was successful in getting Bill C-309, the Concealment of Identity Act, passed in the senate on May 23. Although the MPís Rocky Mountain Hockey Challenge fundraiser was postponed from June 23 to Aug. 18 and changed location from Springbank to Cochrane due to flooding, it was the most successful yet ñ bringing in $86,000 for local victimsí assistance societyís. Richards presented $20,000 to Airdrie and District Victims Assistance Society in November.
Lawrence Kamke
A fatal collision on Veterans Blvd. on Aug. 22 claimed the life of the 80-year-old from Calgary, leaving his family in Airdrie grieving. Kamke was returning home from his son Chrisí house in Airdrie, along with his other son Dan, who was driving the van at the time, and his two grandchildren when the collision occurred.
Kamke had been recovering from hip surgery and was on liquid oxygen at the time of the accident, and was ìa fighter,î according to Chris. A left turn signal traffic light was installed by the City at the intersection on Nov. 1.
Unsung heros
Although our community was not hit hard, residents of Airdrie came together to help those in need during the flooding in Southern Alberta in June.
Just a few examples include local residents, the Canadian Armed Forces staged in Airdrie to assist other communities, the Airdrie Food Bank coordinated volunteers and the Airdrie Regional Air Show which donated thousands of dollars to the cause.
Lisa Kelly
The employee with Kel-Pro Marketing Group and planner for the Airdrie Summer Festival confirmed the festival would be cancelled June. After listing the event at three different locations: Nose Creek Park, the Airdrie Airpark and north of Main Street near Airdrie Trailer Sales on the eventís website, Kelly said issues with finding adequate space, the cost of hosting the event and getting the permits from the City caused the cancelation.
Greg Lockert
After the grand opening was pushed back from Aug. 19 to the 26 due to construction delays, the manager of Genesis Place, was thrilled to introduce the completed phase three of the recreation centre. The twin NHL ice surface features a 250-seat grandstand in each arena, four meeting rooms, locker rooms, a conference room and a pro shop.
Aldermen
Longtime City of Airdrie aldermen Murray Buchanan and Glenda Alexander announced they would not be seeking re-election in the Oct. 21 municipal election.
Denis Tinkler
The manager of Bert Church Theatre, celebrated with members of the community and other City staff on Nov. 28 when the 7,000-square-foot expansion of the theatre was unveiled to the public. The project cost $3.6 million and includes dedicated community support spaces such as: separate stand-alone entrances and foyer, a box office, coat check, lobby, washrooms, multi-purpose space that can be utilized to stage rental events and smaller more intimate performances, and a dedicated dressing/greenroom for professional artists. The project was paid for by a combination of funding from the municipal, provincial and federal governments.
