Part of Bowmont Park to be renamed, honouring former Ald. Dale Hodges - Action News
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Calgary

Part of Bowmont Park to be renamed, honouring former Ald. Dale Hodges

Calgary will name a portion of a northwest park after Dale Hodges, who served for 30 years as the area's representative on city council.

Hodges served 30 years, making him the longest-serving municipal politician in Calgary's history

A portion of Bowmont Park in the city's northwest, will be re-named in honour of former alderman Dale Hodges. (Left photo: Justin Pennell/Right photo: City of Calgary)

Calgary will name part of a northwest park after Dale Hodges, who served for 30 years as the area's representative on city council.

Hodges was first elected in 1983 as the alderman for Ward 1, a position he held for 10 straight terms before retiring from council in 2013. Those termsmade Hodgesthe city's longest-ever serving politician at the municipal level.

The current council voted unanimously Monday to rename EastBowmontPark inHodges' honour.

Severalcouncillorsspoke about their former colleague.

"You took me under your wing and shared your wisdom," saidCoun.DruhFarrell.

"And it was a gentle wisdom but I came to treasure it, so it's a good day."

Coun. Ward Sutherland, left, who currently represents Ward 1 on city council, tweeted this photo Monday of him and former alderman Dale Hodges in the council chambers public gallery, with Coun. Diane Colley-Urquhart at right. (Ward Sutherland/Twitter)

Coun. WardSutherland, who won the seat vacated byHodges, called him "a great steward for the parks."

"Not onlyBownessPark but all the surrounding parks andBowmontPark, and this is just a natural extension," he said.

Coun. BrianPincott, who earlierannounced he will not run in this fall's election, said he cherished his working relationship withHodges.

"He was a mentor;he was a friend. I loved getting to know him and getting beyond that gruff exterior he worked so hard to cultivate," Pincottsaid.

"And every time I managed to make him giggle publicly, I considered it a victory."