The Town of Killam was honoured to receive an ACE Community Designation in 2009. It was at that time the ACE Committee was formed and a short-term project was chosen – Killam X-Treme Makeover Park Edition. The makeover is to include an outdoor amphitheatre, new walking trail, bike park, some beautification, an outdoor barbecue station, new picnic tables, benches and garbage receptacles. Because of the scope of our project, the committee was also awarded the Let Them Be Kids Kool-Aid Smile Award in June 2010.
Recently the committee has been given the challenge of naming the bike park. It really was not a difficult decision at all, as there is one community member that stands out in everyone’s mind. It is Killam’s small town hero – Gordie Enghoj.
Gordie was only two when he contracted a near fatal case of polio complicated by double pneumonia and pleurisy. The disease left him brain damaged with partially paralyzed throat muscles and vocal chords. Two years later he developed a lump on his back, compressing his lungs and giving him pain for his whole life. These handicaps prevented him from receiving any formal education but he taught himself to ride a bike and began running errands for people. Then he volunteered at numerous locations. Uunloading and hauling freight from the train, filling pop coolers and swept floor at local restaurants for just a few examples. In fact, almost every business in town received Gordie’s help at one time or another. Sometimes he was given a free coffee or a piece of pie, but never wages.
Gordie made friends wherever he went in town, learning how to play pool at the local pool hall, learning to skate at the local arena he and his father helped the community to build. He also helped at the bowling alley and the swimming pool at the Agriplex. And for years he set up and took down the tables and chairs in the Community Hall for the Lion’s weekly bingo games. He served as errand guy equipment handler and inspiration.
Gordon Enghoj has spent his life beating all the odds while giving countless thousands of hours of volunteer service to the community his mother once described as his lifeblood. And the community has responded. People came from all over the province to his dinner to say thank you and to celebrate his contributions. He is a true Small Town Hero.
Gordie is known to all ages, young and old, and exemplifies someone who is the face and name of Killam so he is a natural choice to receive this kind of recognition and dedication. The ACE Committee feels that Gordie is not only a friend to all Killamites, but he is also a role model for our children and when they are on the Bike Park playing with their peers, they will read the sign of dedication to Gordie and realize anything is possible with hard work and perseverance. Gordie has recently celebrated his 80th Birthday and the ACE Committee would like to help him celebrate by making this dedication to him.
The Heritage Park Makeover Day is this coming Saturday, September 25th, 2010. We are asking the people of Killam to come together and volunteer their time to build a park that will be used by all generations. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and everyone is welcome to attend and help out. The opening ceremonies and the Gordie Enghoj dedication ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. at the Park. Hope to see you there!
