A man enthusiastic about preserving Prince Albert’s history and improving the downtown core has been named Prince Albert’s citizen of the year.
“For once, I’m speechless,” Harris May said after being ambushed by well-wishers at the Prince Albert Historical Museum on Tuesday.
There to receive a donation from the Prince Albert Fire Department, he was taken off guard by the group of smiling faces there to congratulate him for receiving the prestigious award.
“He has been involved with every project that we’ve had on the go, and not just as a committee member to volunteer and give his opinion,” museum volunteer Jayne Remenda said.
“From day one on any project, whether it was downtown improvement or the historical society, the airshow, the gala … he’s been a working volunteer, fully engaged.”
“He’s just a wonderful person to have around,” museum curator Michelle Taylor said.
“He’s really helped the society to move forward and become more interactive with his guidance and really been more community-orientated. We’ve been more out in the community with him here.”
“His organizational skills, financial expertise and ability to motivate others moved many initiatives from ideas to reality to success,” historical society chair Deb Honch wrote in a letter endorsing May as citizen of the year, which included a long list of May’s accomplishments with the society.
May’s involvement in the historical society began about 10 years ago, when his daughter was hired as a tour guide at the museum.
“When I saw that they were short-handed, and I had a few talents that I could offer, I volunteered,” he said.
“Be careful of the vortex that you get yourself into!”
May is always keen on putting his hand up to volunteer for things, Remenda said, noting that he even volunteered for the less-than-coveted secretary-treasurer position with the historical society, “which was a huge job with the airshow,” she noted.
Though he’s been involved in many projects and was integral in organizing this year’s Prince Albert Centennial of Flight Air Show, he cites the installation of a full-time curator as his proudest achievement.
“She has brought us into the 21st century,” he said of Taylor.
For Honch, May’s leadership role with the air show is a “perfect example of how he approaches everything he does, with integrity, vision, dedication and with the best interests of the community and visitors to our community considered as foremost.”
Spreading his volunteer spirit through the city’s downtown area, he’s also spent time as a committee member of the Main Street Prince Albert board.
He has been involved with every project that we’ve had on the go, and not just as a committee member to volunteer and give his opinion. From day one on any project, whether it was downtown improvement or the historical society, the airshow, the gala … he’s been a working volunteer, fully engaged. - Jayne Remenda
“He’s just a great asset,” Main Street Prince Albert co-ordinator Bob Gill said.
“His knowledge of all the past history and his involvement in the historical society and his work for the society is absolutely great. He’s got so much knowledge from the past years here and been involved in so many things, it’s great.”
May has lived in Prince Albert since 1968. After high school, he became a certified journeyman painter while working for Dodge & Son as an apprentice, starting his own painting company in 1983.
In 1980, he also became a certified management accountant, becoming the province’s only person to be a certified management accountant and journeyman painter.
Over the years, he’s volunteered in a number of different capacities, including as a minor softball coach, school treasurer as well in different capacities at the local United Churches and at the Prince Albert Art Gallery.
Prince Albert's Citizen of the Year award is a joint effort between the Prince Albert Daily Herald and the Prince Albert Kinsmen Club.
Past award recipients
2011 Dale McFee
2010 Frank Moore
2009 Donna Christopherson
2008 Art Hauser
2007 Dr. Lalita Malhotra
2006 Malcolm Jenkins
2005 Bill Smiley
2004 Molly Cowie
2003 Mitchell Holash
2002 Bernice Sayese
2001 Maurice Casgrain
2000 Marge Nainaar
1999 Howard Gange
1998 Ed Glynn
1997 James Wilm
1996 Jack Matheson
1995 Fern Lloyd
1994 Myrna Nagy
1993 Eugene Arcand
1992 Ajay Krishan
1991 Larry Zatlyn
1990 Alma Newman
1989 Jim Bristowe
1988 Dr. Orville Hjertaas
1987 Naomi Tucker
1986 Jim Scarrow
1985 Stan Danbrook
1984 Cec Corrigal
1983 Val Longworth
1982 Herschel Davidner
1981 George Slater
1980 Eileen Lillico
1979 Percy Hiltz
1978 Kris Eggum
1977 Marjorie Wettergreen
1976 Bill and Jean Neil
1975 Alma Jeanneau
1974 R. J. Casey
1973 J. J. Cennon
1972 Archdeacon W. F. Payton
1971 Leafie McDonald
1970 Reg Brooman
1969 Wilf Beaton
1968 Major Arthur Shadgett
1967 Orville Erickson
1966 Maurice Longpre
1965 Tillie Kawula
1964 Margo Fournier
1963 Dave Dalziel
1962 Rowena McLellan
1961 Andy Zwack
1960 Marion Sherman
1959 Margaret Hasseltine
1958 P. W. Mahon
