SANDRA M STANWAY
Brooks Bulletin
The newest grove in the Communities in Bloom Commemorative Forest was named in memory of Jackie Murray, a co-founder of Brooks Communities in Bloom.
Jackie Murray passed away on April 4, 2024 at the age of 97.
“It’s wonderful. She worked so hard for so many years. I think it’s great. She would have been very happy,” said Jane Murray, Jackie’s daughter.
Murray said her mother loved to volunteer and was consumed by Communities in Bloom as evidenced by the reams of paper she has been going through since her mother’s death.
“She was consumed by it from every waking minute – planning. She loved it. I think it was very flattering. I think it was a real honour. I’m very pleased they chose to name that for her,” she said.
A letter from Bow River MP Martin Shields was read on his behalf during last week’s Commemorative Forest celebration.
He noted that the forest is more than a collection of trees but is a tribute and sanctuary with each tree representing a story, a memory and a life well lived.
He wrote that Jackie Murray helped to foster Communities in Bloom to the program it is today.
Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA and premier Danielle Smith noted, in her letter, that projects like the Commemorative Forest help to build communities.
Heather Pigott, Smith’s constituency assistant recalled the time last year when she and Smith met Jackie at her home to award her the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal to honour her for her community work.
“We are thrilled to see that there is a grove in the Commemorative Forest that further honours Jackie’s legacy,” said Pigott.
County councillor Amanda Skanderup said a tree can be a reminder of the resilience required to weather life’s storms of loss and grief.
This year’s honourees engraved on the plaque that stands in front of the forest are:
John Andrejcin, Addy Bonora, Jimmy Bonora, Sheila Cochran, Dr. Gavin Ellefson, John Frances, Carol Gil, Mia Gunter, Allen T. Jeffrey, Soren Jorgensen, Pam Lawson, Dianne MacKinnon, Jackie Murray, Jenny Niznik, Asher Fane Paton, Jac Peeters, Elvin Robinson, Gerald Robinson, Grace Robinson, Gertie Smith, Laurielee Svoboda, Struan and Jean Vaughan, Vicky I. Williams, Roy Walter Wilson and Barbara Wutzke.
In 2012 the first trees were planted in the Commemorative Forest’s inaugural grove. The forest is located at Lake Stafford.
