Nutana Collegiate honours alumnus Chief Darcy Bear
- EFN Staff | June 09, 2015
At no time ever did Darcy Bear think that one day the park at Nutana High School where he played football would be named in his honour. “The only thing I thought of in high school was getting out of here,” joked Whitecap Dakota Chief Darcy Bear. But due to his outstanding leadership and success of his community, his old school and the City of Saskatoon have named a park area adjacent to the collegiate in his name.
Chief Bear graduated from Nutana Collegiate in 1986 and has since become one of province’s most highly regarded First Nations leaders. The ceremony to officially recognize the park as Chief Darcy Bear Park was held as part of the collegiate’s annual Friends of Nutana Celebration and Luncheon.
“As an alumni I have always valued my time at Nutana Collegiate and am truly grateful for this honour," said Chief Darcy Bear. "I share this honour with all members -- both past and present -- from our community, our dedicated staff, and all our partners who together have built the successes that we all enjoy today. It is very humbling to be here.”
Mayor Don Atchison joined Chief Bear for the naming ceremony and espoused the benefits of the partnerships that Whitecap and the city have shared for over 130 years.
Chief Bear has been a leader in the extensive economic development within the Whitecap community and a driving force for improved quality of life for residents of the First Nation located south of Saskatoon. He is currently serving his seventh consecutive term as chief and eighth overall term on council after first being elected in 1991 at the age of 23.
Ray Morrison, chair of the Saskatoon Public Schools’ Board of Education, says it’s fitting that a park which serves the Nutana community and the collegiate be named in honour of Chief Bear, one of the many outstanding leaders who have graduated from Nutana Collegiate during its more than 100-year history.
“Saskatoon Public Schools and the Whitecap Dakota First Nation have a long history of working together to create opportunities for students. Under the leadership of Chief Bear that relationship has grown and strengthened into a partnership that truly provides benefits to all members of our division’s learning community,” Morrison said.
The park located at the corner of Eastlake Avenue and 11th Street East was once collegiate property before becoming city park land several years ago following a land swap agreement between the City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Public Schools.
The celebration and park naming was a partnership effort between Nutana Collegiate, Whitecap Dakota First Nation, Saskatoon Public Schools, the City of Saskatoon and the Nutana Community Association.
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