The holiday season is usually one of joy, happiness and celebration but this past holiday season was met with sorrow and sadness as two well-known community leaders passed away. Hugh Hamilton passed away just before Christmas and now, this past week, former Airdrie City councillor Murray Buchanan passed away.
I knew both of these men really well and have spoken to them and admired what they have done in the 15 years I have lived in Airdrie. Buchanan’s passing was especially a shock as I was with him Dec. 30 at the Calgary Hitmen game celebrating Airdrie Day. One day I am sharing a beer with this great man, and the next I hear he has passed away.
Going back to March 2013, Airdrie has lost four of its great community leaders. Along with Buchanan and Hamilton we lost Dick Buchanan in January 2015 and Ed Eggerer in March 2013. Naming all four of these men as Airdrie community leaders or staples of our community would be a very easy thing to do. You could stop any person on the street and ask them to name one of Airdrie’s greatest citizens, and one of these four names would have come up.
Each of them volunteered countless hours to the community, Chamber of Commerce, Airdrie City council and various community groups and non-profit organizations.
Each of them left Airdrie a much better place from when they joined our community.
Their passings, as sad as they are, don’t mean Airdrie doesn’t have another generation of community leaders ready to step up and take their places. All four of these men can know they have left Airdrie in good hands for the future.
The new list of community leaders who have no problems saying “yes” to Airdrie include the likes of Mayor Peter Brown, Dr. Julian Kyne, Michelle Bates, Derek Lalonde, Lori McRitchie, Al Jones and Matt Carre, just to name a few – as well as an even longer list of youth who are already showing their great leadership skills and a want to make their community a better place.
So to the four of you in your passing I say, “Thank you kind gentlemen your work is done here. Airdrie will continue to be the great place that it has been and will grow in the guiding hands of tomorrow’s leaders.”
