The community contributions of the late former NWT commissioner Tony Whitford will be recognized at a Yellowknife Rotary Park ceremony from 11am on Saturday.
Tony, a Métis three-term MLA who grew up in Fort Smith, passed away last year at the age of 83.
He was the territory’s commissioner from 2005 to 2010 and a member for decades of the Rotary Club of Yellowknife, which is hosting Saturday’s ceremony.
Austin Marshall, another longtime Rotarian, said a memorial bench will be unveiled beneath a gazebo at the park where Tony contributed so much of his time.
“He was a big supporter and a big help when we were doing the gazebo many years ago, and then when we built the walkway out to the lake,” Marshall told Cabin Radio.
“Even as he got older and couldn’t do the physical work as much, he was always the one that brought the coffee and donuts. Whenever Tony’s around, spirits are always high. So that’s what led us to deciding, hey, let’s put up a bench in his memory.”
Tony had already been a Rotarian for many years when Marshall joined the group in 1993. He served as its auctioneer at the annual bike auction, helped construct the 50-mile track for the annual dog derby, and is remembered by Marshall particularly for his sense of humour and community spirit.
“When we first moved to town over 40 years ago – we came in 1983 – we lived on a little cul de sac and Tony was a few houses away. He liked to build birdhouses,” Marshall recalled.
“So down he comes with a birdhouse for us. We put it up on the side of our house and the swallows came and nested, and that was my summer memory.”
That first Christmas Eve for the Marshalls in Yellowknife, Tony left another mark.
“We’re in the house getting ready for Christmas the next day and the kids are all excited,” Marshall said.
“There’s a knock on the door, so down we go. We open the door and there’s Santa Claus, aka Tony Whitford.
“That will always stick with me. That was him, you know?”
Miriam Bosiljevac contributed reporting.
