A Kelowna man害羞草研究所檚 legacy will live on thanks to a new installment in Kinsmen Park.
As a recognition for his decades of dedicated service to the Central Okanagan, the Kelowna Kinsmen Club, friends and family gathered at the park on May 9 to honour Ken Harding -颅 exactly one year after his death.
The K-40 and Kelowna Kinsmen Club first decided to dedicate a picnic table for Ken while he was still alive, but unfortunately he died before he had a chance to see it in person.
害羞草研究所淭oday is sort of a last farewell for us. You never forget but this helps us pay respects to him and hopefully his memory will live on,害羞草研究所� said his son, Kevin Harding.
害羞草研究所淚t is fantastic to have all these people here. The Kinsmen Club was a very big part of his life. He was one of the founding members, at age 19, in 1948. He was a very active member in most everything you can think of in the city.害羞草研究所�
Kevin said he worked tirelessly to put together projects that still benefit the city to this day.
害羞草研究所淭o him this would be害羞草研究所� he would be most honoured,害羞草研究所� added Kevin. 害羞草研究所淔amily, friends, Kinsmen 害羞草研究所� they were his favourite things.害羞草研究所�
Friends and family gathered near Ken Harding's new memorial bench in Kelowna's Kinsmen Park. Image credit: Carmen Weld.
Former Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray was on site for the dedication and said Ken was an idol to him.
害羞草研究所淚 had two idols growing up as a kid and young adult, one was then Premier Bill Bennett and the other was Ken Harding, and in fact Ken and Bill were good friends,害羞草研究所� said Gray.
He first met Ken when he walked in to the Whillis Harding Insurance Agency to get car insurance at 16 years old.
Through a few insurance saves over the years for Gray, and their work in the community, Gray got to know Ken well.
害羞草研究所淗e was involved in everything, including being a founding member of the Kinsmen Club in Kelowna. He just seemed to be involved in everything and on both sides of the lake,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淜elowna to him was beyond the city boundaries. He had the knack of being a wonderful gentlemen in business and in the community.害羞草研究所�
Ken害羞草研究所檚 wife of 68 years, Gwenith Harding, was also in attendance on Wednesday and was pleased to see her husband害羞草研究所檚 decades of work commemorated in this way.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just great,害羞草研究所� said Gwenith. 害羞草研究所淗e did so much, he was always busy. After he had to leave office at Kinsmen he still always went. He got involved in the chamber, just everything.害羞草研究所�
As part of the ceremony on Wednesday, those in attendance suggested that Kinsmen park should be renamed to include Ken害羞草研究所檚 name, something along the lines of Ken Harding-Kinsmen park or Kinsmen-Harding Park, etc.
Friends and family gathered near Ken Harding's new memorial bench in Kelowna's Kinsmen Park. Image credit: Carmen Weld.
Gray shared his approval of this idea while his son Kevin said he hadn害羞草研究所檛 even considered that idea before it was first mentioned by 94-year-old Alan Carter.
害羞草研究所淚t would be fitting, dad did so much for the community, but I think that would be an uphill battle,害羞草研究所� said Kevin, with a chuckle. 害羞草研究所淚 think having the picnic table here will be great, just as it is.
害羞草研究所淥ne of his nicknames was Mr. Kelowna, the grey fox, the mayor that never was. He was very good with people, a man of his word. He was true to himself and true to the community.害羞草研究所�
A photo of Ken Harding sits on his new memorial bench in Kelowna's Kinsmen Park. Image credit: Carmen Weld.
In a recent Capital News column, Charlie Hodge described him as 害羞草研究所渢ruly a Kelowna 颈肠辞苍害羞草研究所�.
Some of his contributions include; President of the Chamber of Commerce, a Rotarian, Central Okanagan Foundation, founding member of Bursary and Scholarship Society, B.C.I.T., United Way, Bold Horizons Campaign, Safety Council and the Gellatly Nut Farm.
He was previously honoured by receiving the Queens害羞草研究所� Jubilee Medal, Honorary Fellow of Central Okanagan College, Fred Macklin Memorial Award, and member of the Board of First United Church.
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