Next year is the 25th anniversary of the WinnipegREALTORS®-established Citizens Hall of Fame. To celebrate this milestone, the hall of fame committee has been decided to change the timeline for the nomination process to allow for the finished sculpture of the successful inductee to be unveiled at the annual induction ceremony reception.
The new cut-off date for public nominations for next year’s inductee is December 15 this year.
In the past, the nominee deadline was at the end of May with the inductee for that year selected in June. After the selection process, a reception was held in the late summer and the installation of the sculpture took place the following summer.
“While we do present our bronze medallion to our inductee or the relatives of a posthumous inductee at the induction ceremony, the installation of the portraiture, a full year later, is somewhat anti-climatic,” said Rick Preston, chair of the Citizens Hall of Fame committee. “With the new timelines, the sculpture will be unveiled at the induction ceremony. This also allows for an unveiling and installation on the site in Assiniboine Park that is open to the public, the day after the reception.”
Since the WinnipegREALTORS® Association established the Citizens Hall of Fame in 1986, 37 outstanding Winnipeggers have been inducted.
The hall of fame is located in Assiniboine Park in the Formal Garden area, just off the intersection of Corydon Avenue and Park Boulevard.
Each inductee is honoured with a bronze bust created by a local artist. Terry Fox, the 2010 inductee, will have his sculpture installed in time for the 2011 Terry Fox Run in September which is run annually in Assiniboine Park.
The full inductee list with their biographies can be seen at www.winnipegfame.ca.
“I look forward to receiving nominations this year that put forward Winnipeggers, past and present, who have made significant contributions to Winnipeg’s quality of life,” said Preston.
Nomination forms are available year round and can be downloaded from www.winnipegfame.ca or can be picked up at 1240 Portage Ave. The Citizens Hall of Fame also has a Facebook page.
For more information, contact Shaila Wise at 786-8854, or e-mail to swise@winnipegrealtors.ca