Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Tim Harriman Legacy Loop

City proposes renaming East Lake pathway in Tim Harriman's honour

Tim Harriman Legacy Loop proposal goes before city council Tuesday evening

By Marie Pollock/Echo Reporter

Posted 1 day ago

The pathway around East Lake may soon be going by a new name.

On Tuesday evening, city council will vote on whether East Lake Pathway should be renamed the "Tim Harriman Legacy Loop," after the Airdrie resident who biked across Canada in 2007 in support of children's cancer research. Harriman died from cancer in September at the age of 22.

Christa Harriman, Tim Harriman's wife, said it would be an honour to have the pathway named after her husband.

"I'm proud of Tim and I'm so impressed that he made such an impact," she said. "I'm honoured, I'm flattered, and I know Tim would be very flattered and proud as well."

Michael McAllister, community developer with the City of Airdrie, said Christa Harriman originally approached city staff in November with the idea to display Tim Harriman's cycling gear – including his bike, jersey, bike gloves and shoes – at city hall or Genesis Place. However, the two facilities are not designed to display memorial items, and it was decided that Nose Creek Valley Museum would be a more suitable location, McAllister said.

City staff decided to offer Christa Harriman the chance to make a presentation about the possibility of renaming East Lake Pathway after her husband.

Christa Harriman has already made a presentation to the Community Services Advisory Board about Tim Harriman's influence on Airdrie, and McAllister said the board was unanimous in their support of the dedication.

"He spread a message of hope to people who were facing adversity in their lives," McAllister said. "It was very clear that he had a positive impact … I think that's something that the entire community can be really proud of."

Mayor Peter Brown said he thinks it's "phenomenal" that the request to rename the pathway is coming to council.

"Tim was an awesome individual who brought recognition to a horrific disease. He did such an amazing job during what were obviously very trying times for him," Brown said. "He's an inspiration to so many people."

If approved by council, the city would pay $5,000 for a dedication plaque for the pathway, and would also hold a naming ceremony. The date of the ceremony has been tentatively booked for June 15 – Tim Harriman's birthday. The date also coincides with bike month in Airdrie.

marie@airdrieecho.com

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GREAT NEWS! The proposal has been approved! The loop WILL be named the "Tim Harriman Legacy Loop" :) Council approved the proposal last evening!

You can read this same article here: http://www.airdrieecho.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2987816

And another one here:

http://www.airdriecityview.com/article/20110223/ACV0801/302239989/-1/acv/council-votes-to-rename-pathway-after-local-hero

-Christa Harriman


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