Penny and Gord Wolstenholme’s family, including grandchildren and great grandchildren, turned out for the anniversary celebration of Gord’s 20th year on council.
Fort Macleod paid tribute Oct. 12 to its longest serving member of town council.
Family friends and past and present council members turned out at the G.R. Davis Administration Building for a celebration of Gord Wolstenholme’s 20th year on council.
“We appreciate you,” Fort Macleod Mayor Brent Feyter said. “Thank you for all your hard work.”
Wolstenholme and his wife Penny in 1973 moved to Fort Macleod where they raised their family.
Wolstenholme taught until 2005 when he retired from F.P. Walshe school, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the student council.
In addition to teaching, Wolstenholme coached high school baseball, basketball and badminton, and was involved in Minor Hockey and Minor Ball.
Wolstenholme was first elected to town council in 2004 and was re-elected in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2021.
“Twenty years, that is no small feat,” Feyter said. “Lots has happened, both in your own personal life and the community.”
As an elected member of Fort Macleod council, Wolstenholme is also active on other committees, boards and commissions.
Wolstenholme has chaired the Oldman River Regional Services Commission, the Willow Creek Regional Landfill Authority and serves on the Willow Creek Foundation.
Feyter reflected on all the achievements that have occurred in Fort Macleod during Wolstenholme’s time on council.
“It’s kind of amazing when you start thinking about how much has happened, whether its the new pool or a lot of the infrastructure projects,” Feyter said. “A lot of things happened over those years.”
MD of Willow Creek Coun. Earl Hemmaway brought greetings on behalf of his council and municipality.
“The meetings that I have gone into with Gord, I really appreciated his input,” Hemmaway said. “I have sat on a few committees with Gord and it has been a pleasure.”
“We appreciate the service you have done.”
MD of Willow Creek Reeve Maryanne Sandberg also praised Wolstenholme for his work as an elected official.
“Twenty years is a long time of municipal service, Gord,” Sandberg said. “We really do admire the amount of work that you have done.”
Sandberg noted Wolstenholme’s work with the planning commission, Willow Creek Foundation and the MD of Willow Creek’s subdivision and development appeal board.
“We value you on all of these boards and we thank you,” Sandberg said.
The Town of Fort Macleod presented Wolstenholme with a bubblehead in his image wearing a Calgary Flames jersey, and the MD of Willow Creek presented a set of commemorative glasses.
Wolstenholme was appreciative of the gifts and kind words.
“Thanks a lot,” he said.
Guests were treated to cake and other refreshments.
Guests enjoyed an anniversary cake.
Gord Wolstenholme admires the bobblehead doll in his own image, wearing a Calgary Flames jersey. The gift came from the Town of Fort Macleod on the anniversary of his 20th year as a town councillor.
Gord Wolstenholme reacts as he is presented with a bobblehead in his own image wearing a Calgary Flames jersey by Town of Fort Macleod chief administrative officer Anthony Burdett.
