Local history is thriving thanks to a few dedicated individuals, and the Prince George Public Library (PGPL) has awarded them for their contributions.
This Sunday (Feb. 24), the PGPL hosted the 34th annual Jeanne Clark History Awards, where local historians are awarded for their contributions and service.
Retired architect Trelle Morrow was given a Service Award for his significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of local history.
During his acceptance speech, Morrow spoke about the importance of documenting the city’s built environment.
Morrow has worked to document and describe the significance for a lot of the historic buildings on the city’s Heritage Register.
Helen Raptis and members of the Tsimshian Nation received a Publication Award for the book, What We Learned: two generations reflect on Tsimshian education and the day schools.
The Library Board, who gives out the awards, also bestowed John and Gwen Reimer with a Publication Award for Ness Lake Bible Camp, which tells the story of the advent of the camp. They also thanked Morrow for his help with the book.
Every year during Heritage Week, the library presents the Jeanne Clark Local History Awards to groups or individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the preservation and promotion of local history.
There are two categories for awards one for service and one for publications. The service award was established in 1985, in memory of Jeanne Clarke, a former board chair who served on the library board from 1978 until 1984.
She was a founding member of the Prince George Public Library’s Local History Committee and played a key role in establishing the library’s local history collection.
Then in 1993, the PGPL Board added a publication award category so authors could be recognized for producing important new work in local history.
Nonâfiction, biographies, historical fiction or any publication that improves the appreciation and understanding of local history is eligible for the award.
