It was a good night for everyone to get reconnected and learn how to keep on saving the days of the past for the future.
“I would do that once a month if it was feasible,” Brenda Smith, with the Maple Ridge Historical Society, said of the Heritage Awards evening that took place Feb. 11 at St. Andrew’s Heritage Church Hall and drew about 50 people.
Three awards were given out by the Maple Ridge heritage commission to recognize those who are helping preserve the past.
Tim Woodland saw some valuable business records from the old logging company Mossom-Boyd and bought them from a collector.
Then he turned around and donated them, in return for which Woodland was recognized for his Significant Contribution for the Preservation of an Historical Collection.
“He has a particular interest in logging history and postal history,” said Smith.
Mossom-Boyd used to do business with Abernethy Lougheed Logging Company in Maple Ridge, Smith pointed out. Allco Park at the north end of 248th Street in Maple Ridge now bears that name.
The History Hero Special Award went to Daphne and Frank Sleigh. Frank, who died in 2014, argued against building the Haney Bypass through “downtown, historic Port Haney,” said Smith. His wife Daphne has been recognized by the lieutenant-governor for historical writing.
The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Agricultural Association won an award for award for stewardship of a community cultural asset – that is Country Fest, the summer farm and agricultural fair that takes place every year in the Albion fairgrounds.
Country Fest president Tom Cameron and manager Lorraine Bates received the nod for doing their part to keep the fair going into its second century.
The first year the fair was held was 1901.
“It is the oldest, continually operating community organization in Maple Ridge,” Smith said.
“They have kept the organization strong and healthy,” and have made Maple Ridge a destination every year.
Heritage Commendations were given to the Golden Ears Transition Initiative for choosing heritage as a theme for the 2015 GETI Fest, while the Maple Ridge family history group, a committee of the historical society, was recognized for producing the Edge Legacy Family History group.