(Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

In the chambers

Colby Cave memorial project proposed for North Battleford

Jan 12, 2021 | 10:19 AM

North Battleford city council is considering a proposal for a memorial initiative to honour the memory of Colby Cave that includes a street renaming.

The Edmonton Oilers forward from Battleford was just 25 when he died tragically after suffering a brain bleed last year.

Council discussed the memorial proposal at its meeting Monday night.

The city received correspondence from Mallory Simmonds, from the Battlefords Minor Hockey Association, who is a member of the Colby Cave Memorial Planning Committee.

She said in her letter that April 11, 2021 will mark the one-year anniversary of Cave’s death.

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“We are in the planning stages of honouring this young man and his hockey history in our community, with the hopes to announce our plans on the one-year anniversary of his death,” she wrote. “We welcome all feedback, criticisms and suggestions regarding the proposals.”

Simmonds said not only has Cave put the Battlefords on the map for his success in his hockey career, he left behind a legacy of being a respectful, coachable, hard-working teammate.

“His memory has fostered pride in the young people of our community who wish to follow in his footsteps,” she said in her letter to council.

The proposal includes establishing a Colby Cave Award and a Memorial Spring Hockey Camp.

It also requires the city’s approval to rename streets – the roundabout and access road – around the Civic Centre, known as Access Communications Centre, to Colby Cave Way.

The request also calls to add banners to the light posts around the Access Communications Centre; and potentially a physical monument placed at the centre of the roundabout in front of the venue.

Council members acknowledged Cave is an important part of the Battlefords history.

Coun. Bill Ironstand suggested possibly having a Memorial Way, if the city were to rename a street, to honour the Battlefords’ many fallen heroes.

Coun. Len Taylor said “the spirit of the request is an honourable one.”

Similar to a number of other councillors, he said the city will need to look at its policies in place.

Council members were concerned whether the proposal would fit into the city’s existing street naming policies and bylaws, which they say is a larger issue to consider.

Council wants to look at what has been done in the past. It was also mentioned public feedback might be in order.

Members directed administration to bring more information to a future planning committee meeting for discussion.

—

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW