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OF THE HIGHLANDS-BELLEVUE COMMUNITY
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Students, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen: I feel it is only fitting that our staff has chosen a tree to commemorate Marlene Gelette. In so doing to constantly remind us of the work that she has done in our community. For a tree to remain strong it must have a well developed root system. Marlene's strong beliefs were rooted in a child centred philosophy that all young people should have the opportunity to grow and develop in a structured, warm school climate. The trunk of this tree symbolizes Marlene's leadership role in the school. In collaboration with the administration, Marlene contributed to the backbone of Highlands. The branches of this tree illustrate how her care and dedication was felt in each and every classroom. The leaves on the branches represent the students of Highlands who were always her prime concern. In time this blue spruce will produce an abundance of cones which will be a constant testimonial to her long fruitful career at Highlands as a Language Arts teacher and as a Counsellor. Once this tree matures it will afford us with shelter under it's branches. Marlene's office was always a shelter to countless students, parents and staff who required her calming influence in their lives. This tree is also symbolic of life itself. Marlene, although an excellent writer and speaker, showed her love and affection by example. She was a firm believer that "actions speak louder than words." Despite personal battles with her health, she was always ready to listen and help another person in need. If Marlene could be here today, she would remind us that Highlands is a very special place where we are one large family that truly cares about each other. A special school where students are safe and secur It is my privilege to formally dedicate this tree to the memory and accomplishments of Marlene Gelette and may this tree be a constant reminder of her loyalty and commitment to our school and everyone in it The tree will be flanked by a plaque that states: MARLENE GELETTE COUNSELLOR, MENTOR, FRIEND
In December 1992 the students, staff and community lost a good and great friend. Mrs. Gelette passed away and left a great gap in all our lives. The following tribute was written by another good friend of us all, Mr. Pat Dawson. In life Marlene Gelette lived many lives! She lived the ups and downs of every student, staff member, and parent! For each of us our life was her life. She touched each one of us in a very special way. She lived to give, and the only thing she asked in return was that each one of us grow and become a better person. It was this empathy, this ability to put herself in our shoes that allowed her to do so many good things. Marlene had a great sense of humour, boundless mental energy, creative ideas and an ability to motivate using outstanding teaching strategies. To each one of us Marlene was Counsellor, Teacher, Administrator, Organizer, Confidant and, mostly, friend. In the final judgement her strength was her ability to listen, understand our feelings and then allow her actions to speak louder than words. Marlene could lead us to a solution then rejoice in our success in solving a problem, whether it was in the classroom, at home or in the community. She never gave up on us! One of the best examples of Marlene's persistence comes from the community and well away from the school. A bag lady called Alice frequents the area along Jasper Avenue. For over ten years Marlene would monthly don her rain coat and rubber gloves, pull Alice off the street, scrub her down, wash her clothes than send Alice back out to find another doorway or entrance to sleep in. Alice refused Marlene's efforts to find a room or accommodation and continually protested over having to have a bath. Marlene never gave up! During the last week of her life Marlene was still trying to make arrangements for Alice for the cold winter months. Marlene never gave up on Alice, and, in spirit, Marlene will never give up on us! |
On June 8th, 1993 at 7:00 P.M; on the front lawn of Highlands Junior High School a ceremony was held to commemorate Marlene Gelette. Mr. Jonkman's speech honouring Marlene follows.
e. Where the staff provides a structured environment where students can learn and grow. She has passed the torch to us all and we will be able to keep Marlene alive in our memories by completing the work she has started with us.
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John Tidridge is indebted to the epsb [Holly Pratt] for providing the material and giving permission for its use. |
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Rhys Bailey, Highlands President Trooper Michael Yuki Hayakaze
Michael was nurtured by a wonderful family who instilled a passion to protect those who have no power. He decided to join the Armed Forces to serve his country while making the world a safer place for children. He grew up in our neighbourhood, sharing this community we love so much and graduating from Eastglen High School. Michael sacrificed his life in service for his country. He's the ultimate example of the quality of people we are in Highlands. We gathered for the first Community League Day in celebration of Highlands and all the great people who live here. Michael's mum wanted his marker to be dedicated on this day more than any other. Attending the dedication ceremony were Michael's mother Machiko Innoue, brother We dedicated this first Children's Garden and marker as the beginning of a larger Centennial Garden to the memory of Michael Yuki Hayakaze. The marker is placed where it belongs, at the foot of the "children's playground." After the dedication ceremony, people gathered to share stories of Mikey and chat with the members of the Armed Forces. Michael died just six days before his unit was scheduled to come home, recalled Nathan Mills, one of a dozen soldiers who attended the ceremony. Known for his ready smile, he had been off duty in previous months due to a sprained ankle and was told he didn't have to come back, Mills added. "But he wanted to finish the mission he started." The trooper's mother moved out of the neighbourhood last December, in part to put painful memories behind. She expressed gratitude to the community for both the occasion and the memorial. "It's so unexpected that anybody thought of my son," she said, adding "This park was Michael's favourite park." It was a touching process for all involved in the preparations, and for those in attendance. A special thanks to Gary Kolkoski of Edmonton Granite Memorial for donating the black granite marker. Gary didn't hesitate a second to see to it the marker was perfect. Also to Veteran Little John Clark, a giant of a man who placed the stone so it would be safe and sound. To Emanuel Buttigieg for preparing the garden, and to the past and present community league boards for initiating and completing a wonderful dedication. We extend our gratitude and welcome to all the people who made it possible to have this dedication for Michael and his family. 2012: In this year many changes were made to Highlands Park where Michael's memorial plaque is situated. An entrance to the park, at the east-side of 62 Street and midway between 112 and 113 Avenues, was designed. The design incorporated Michael's plaque.
Photo credit for Michael Master Corporal Laurie-Ann White
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David Hayakaze, cousins and extended family and best friends and comrades in Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group led by Regimental Second in Command Major John Cochran. Erin Spyker presented Machiko Innoue with flowers and a big thank you as a gift from the community league.
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Tree is located on the south side of the Highland Place Building, From Highlands-Bellevue Highlights, November 2010-January 2011 edition.
In late September 2018 yet another tree was planted [Prunus] to replace the earlier one that had died. Thanks go out to Dorothy Klassen asssistant manager at Highland Place for all of her work and cooperation.
Fulton Frederickson was a 'character' in the truest meaning of the word. John Tidridge met Fulton many, (many) years ago. He (Tidridge) was in police uniform, going to work, when this Lincoln pulled up and the driver asked if he would like a ride downtown... John was regaled with stories for the entire trip! Many years passed before he would meet Fulton again... A bathroom addition was under consideration, at least two plumbers had visited the site and quoted prices that seemed to put the task out of range. They also expressed concerns that the pipes could not be run from the second level to the basement. They both pointed out the difficulties but offered no solutions. At some point the job was discussed with Steve, Tidridge's son...have you heard of Fulton F... who does this kind of 'reno' work... no, I had not. Steve also mentioned a nearby neighbour who had had work done..after a visit and recommendations were received Fulton was called. Fulton visited listened to our plans; drew it out on paper... visited the basement had a look and said he would be back and he was, with a length of copper pipe... one hole was drilled, the piece went up into the hole and disappeared its entire length up into goodness knows where... "It can be done" said Fulton. And it was: He had a work crew of two older gentlemen who carried out the work extremely well. Fulton was there to see the work through. It was many more years the Fulton's expertise was needed by the Tidridge... dark and crusted stains appeared on the Tidridge basement wall, two companies specializing in basement repairs were called, their estimates and plans were out of this world, one method was internal, the other external, both needed 'massive' trenches and etc. "Let's ask Fulton". "There is no problem, the wall will last for a hundred years" he said, "But you need some work on your sidewalk". The sidewalk had decided to shift and was draining any water toward the house. Another company was called, did an excellent job... and we remain dry! Cor Labots, who worked with Fulton on the Board of the Highland Seniors' complex remembered Fulton this way: As an immigrant I sometimes would like to be able to regularly visit the memories of my boyhood neighbourhood where I walked all the streets every day and knew all the houses. Walking through the Highlands and having a closer look at the restoration of the house on the NW corner of 111 avenue and 63 street. Fulton showed up and called me over to have a look through the basement window. If I remember correctly, there was no glass in the window during this stage and we could stick our heads in to see a work bench standing against the wall. "That is the work bench of my father. I have also worked on it as a boy", Fulton said. I appreciate a memory like that: I still have three hand tools out of my dad's toolbox
Highlands loses stalwart supporter Fulton Frederickson passed away on July 28, 2006, at the age of 78. We thought he was indomitable. Fulton was our facilities manager for nearly 10 years. He'd go up ladders to change light bulbs, take his box of tools to handle small repairs. What's more, his list of Contacts in the building industry saved us thousands over the years. Fulton was born and raised in Highlands, and would tell stories about playing in the river valley, building forts and tree houses and finding old tunnels in the area. His father was in construction and Fulton joined the family business. In fact, he worked on the construction of the old hall. Eli Adler, president of Trans America Group, a property development company, met Fulton in 1960. "He was working for Harry Curlett and built my first dental office," he recalls. Fulton went east to the Toronto area for a few years, then returned to Edmonton and joined Adler's company in 1970. "He worked for me for 14 years," says Adler, "then moved to California where his son, Lome, lives." In the mid-'90s, Fulton and his wife Faye returned to Edmonton and bought a house in Highlands. Fulton coned to work for Eli Adler until early this year. Although past the traditional retirement age, he continued to work because he enjoyed it. "Fulton could do just about anything," says Adler, "and he had a job here as long as he wanted it. He'd come in to work every day u when he wasn't travelling with Faye and he was helpful, knowledgeable. Everyone appreciated his wisdom and counsel. " Those who served with Fulton on the HCL executive knew that he could be stubborn, and sometimes impatient especially when people didn't know what they were talking about. He was summoned to the hall one hot afternoon. "The furnace is set to 83 degrees," cried the renter. Fulton laughed. "I turned the furnaces off in May. That's a thermometer as well as a thermostat, and it's 83 degrees in here because it's 85 degrees outside." "Can't we turn on the air conditioning?" asked the renter. "We haven't had air conditioning in here since 1946," said Fulton. "What happened then?" "We put the roof on," Fulton replied. Fulton is survived by his wife, Faye, his children Brent, Margo, Can and Lome; nine grandchildren; brother Ray and sister Ora. We extend our condolences to his family, and assure them that his loss is a loss to us all. This article used with permission July 6, 2018 Good morning John, An update on tree for Highlands. I am in the process of gathering information to purchase a tree that would thrive/survive in this environment. To my knowledge the tree has been replaced in the past, and would now like to replace it with something that could last. If you have any more questions feel free to contact myself, Thank you, Dorothy
On 2018-04-09 9:03 AM, A01Reception wrote:
April 5,2018 Hello Maddie, Thank you for your quick response.. Silly me, I thought my email would have gone to Highland Place at 62 Street and 118 Avenue. We learn something everyday. If you go to this address: fultree.htm you should find the history of the tree and the attached photo will show you the site as of today April 5. Thank you! John Tidridge On 2018-04-05 3:19 PM, A01Reception wrote: Good afternoon John, Thank you for letting us know about the tree, we will look into this for you. I just need to know the building name and address. Thank you, Maddie From: housinginfo@gef.org [mailto:housinginfo@gef.org] Name: John Tidridge Email:Subject:Commemorative tree south side of building Message:Hello People: I drove down the back alley south of your building....I was quite sure the tree in memory of Fulton was gone....would you confirm and let me know and if is has gone; will it be replaced?
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