M.D. denies request to move monument from airport to Claresholm

By Rob Vogt
A request to move the Royal Canadian Air Force Monument located at the Claresholm airport into town has been denied.
The decision came at the June 14 meeting of M.D. council after they reviewed the request, made by the Town of Claresholm.
Coun. Evan Berger said moving it into town means the monument will be seen, otherwise there is no recognition for the people listed on the monument. People will see it in Centennial Park.
Reeve Maryanne Sandberg said in a letter to the editor in the Claresholm Local Press that the monument commemorates where those people listed had served.
Coun. Glen Alm agreed, adding the monument commemorates what happened at the airport.
“I think it should stay,” he said. “We should do a better job to make it visible.”
Coun. Brian Nelson pointed out another concern is that if the monument is out of the way it is more likely the plaques could get stolen.
Coun. Joh Kroetsch agreed with Alm, while Coun. Earl Hemmaway favoured moving it where it will be seen, adding people are not coming out to the airport to see it.
Coun. John Van Driesten said he would go either way, but liked the idea of leaving the one at the airport and another one being built in Claresholm.
Sandberg suggested having something at Centennial Park in Claresholm indicating where the original monument is at the airport.
“If it was my relatives, I’d want to go see where it was originally,” she added. “This is where (the base) was.
“It would benefit both.”
Derrick Krizsan, the M.D.’s chief administrative officer, said the plaques have been thoroughly documented if something happens, and the overall condition of the area is good.
Sandberg asked if the monument is accessible and Krizsan responded it is very accessible.
“To me it’s an historic monument to this airport,” Sandberg said.
Krizsan added nothing says the same plaques cannot be duplicated.
Berger said the arguement to leave something where it is originally was made in Nanton too when the cenotaph was moved. The arguement was that you can’t celebrate something because it was moved two miles, yet now it is celebrated there.
Nelson said, if the monument is moved, something should be installed explaining where the plaques originally were.
Hemmaway said his biggest fear was losing the plaques.
Sandberg said it was time to put the request to a vote.
All of council unanimously voted to leave the monument where it is, and if someone wants to they can duplicate it and put that in town.