Late Calgary MLA Manmeet Bhullar honoured with CBE Legacy Award

The Calgary Board of Education has awarded its second Legacy Award to Manmeet Bhullar, the late Calgary MLA who died in a car crash a year ago.

"This award is being made posthumously to recognize the significant and lasting impact Manmeet has had on the province and the city of Calgary," said board chair JoyBowen-Eyre.

Bhullarwas elected MLA ofCalgary-Montrosein 2008, makinghim the youngest member to be elected to the province's27thLegislature. He was re-elected inCalgary-Greenwayin 2012.

OnNov. 23, 2015,Bhullarwaskilled on the QE2whenhe stopped on the side of the road to help another driver and he was hit by a vehicle.

Bhullar'sfamily accepted the award on his behalf at the CBE board meeting onTuesday.

Holding back tears,Bhullar'solder sister said she wished her brother had the chance to contribute more to his community before his death.

"I always wantedmy brother to be recognized for his contributions, not simply because that's what a proud older sister would want," saidTarjinderBhullar.

"But because I knew that through his recognition, people like him would realize that maybe you don't look a certain way or you don't even act a certain way, but you belong," she said.

"You belong to a larger community and you have a responsibility to make sure that community thrives,"she added.

• Manmeet Singh Bhullar School named in honour of late Calgary MLA

The award celebrates public education in the city as well as "the individuals who have contributed to our communities," saidBowen-Eyre.

"Manmeetserved our communities with his energy, his passion and his whole heart," saidBowen-Eyre.

She saidBhullarwas a "passionate advocate" for youth, justice and education.

In June, the board announced that a public school in the northeast Calgary community of Martindalewould be named after Bhullar.

The Manmeet Singh Bhullar School is expected to open in September 2017.

Manmeetgraduated from Lester B. Pearson High School before going toAthabascaUniversity and the University of Windsor.

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