Calgary

Calgary dog park to be named after Sue Higgins

Calgary city council has voted unanimously to rename a southland off-leash dog park after former alderman Sue Higgins, even though local residents launched a campaign to have it named after longtime volunteer Nora Tuckey.

Self-named 'alderbroad' first elected in 1977

A look back at Nora Tuckey's work

12 years ago
Duration 0:30
Nora Tuckey went above and beyond for many years to keep a Calgary park an off-leash area.

Calgary city council has voted unanimously to rename a southland off-leash dog park after former alderman Sue Higgins.       

Higgins, who represented Ward 14 for 21 years, is now ill with lung cancer.     

Sue Higgins, a former Calgary alderman, is shown celebrating a re-election in 1986 after losing her seat in a failed bid for mayor. (CBC)

Some people in the area had been lobbying for the park to be named after volunteer Nora Tuckey.

But city council decided Monday that Tuckey, who died last year, will be honoured.

Ward 14 Ald. Peter Demong proposed a motion to name a stand of trees in the park "Tuckey's Grove," and include a commemorative plaque and bench honouring both Nora and her husband Sid.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi supports the plan, calling it a beautiful idea.

Higgins, the self-named "alderbroad," was first elected in 1977 and retired in 2001. She was an alderman for 21 years, losing her bid for mayor to Ralph Klein in 1983.