Queen’s Jubilee Award for Rosebud founder

Times Contributor  

 

LaVerne Erickson was among 30 recipients in the riding of Crowfoot to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal at a ceremony in Stettler last week.

The medal commemorates the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. 

Erickson said that he always had an interest in the Royal family. He remembers seeing pictures of the Royal family on the wall of his Grade 1 homestead school and he remembers the announcement that the King died. He often wondered at the challenges the members of the Royal family would face. He admires the actions of the Queen as a ruler.

“I have always felt an affinity for the Queen, because she is head of state and head of church, has through all sorts of personal family struggles, and struggles across the Commonwealth remained steadfast to her ideals. That is quite uncommon in our society. People tend to give up or collapse under the pressure,” said Erickson.

The medal was meant as a tangible way to honour significant contributions and achievements made by Canadians such as LaVerne Erickson.

“I don’t feel that I have received this medal so that LaVerne Erikson would be made significant. It comes because we together have an obligation to build our lives and our communities,” said Erickson.

When Erickson received the medal at the award ceremony, Member of Parliament Kevin Sorenson mentioned that Erickson has always been an idea person. 

Erickson’s many great ideas have become area institutions. He founded the Rosebud School of the Arts, Rosebud Theatre, the Chemainis Theatre in B.C., the Canadian Badlands Passion Play and Canadian Badlands Ltd. He was one of 100 people to receive the Calgary Stampede’s Western Legacy Award, for his impact in promoting the values of Alberta’s western hospitality, commitment to community, pride of place and integrity. Erickson was a past recipient of the Alto Ambassador Award for his outstanding contributions to Alberta’s tourism industry. 

“I founded so many things. We have to have kind hearts but our fortitude has to be strong as steel. We have to carry on no matter what outsiders see. We can feel stressed and carrying the world on our shoulders, but we don’t want to show that to others. We don’t want others to become discouraged, but we want them to rise to the challenge. The Queen has done that admirably. Each of us in the Commonwealth has to do our part to make it a great Commonwealth,” said Erickson.

He has his own ideas about leadership.

 “Once things get going, I believe I have to give projects over to other people. I have always felt, if it is truly blessed of God, others will take it to heart and it will move many people. If it was just LaVerne’s idea, it will die with LaVerne. If it was meant to be, it will become meaningful to other people and they will lend their lives to be part of it.’

His mentorship and leadership style is respected by many.

“LaVerne Erickson’s service to Canada, Alberta, The Canadian Badlands region and the Hamlet of Rosebud is legendary,” explains Adam Furfaro, Executive Director, Rosebud Centre of the Arts (RCA) “At RCA, we are so excited that he has been recognized by the Queen, via the Governor-General and Kevin Sorenson, MP Crowfoot. LaVerne is a true visionary and we are proud that he, as our founder, is still actively involved here at RCA as an advisor and mentor. His ‘servant heart’ is a constant motivator and reminder to this organization, our staff, our students and to me personally.”

By extension, Erickson’s legacy continues in these organizations. Rosebud Theatre has gained an international reputation. It received multiple awards such as Travel Alberta-Alberta Pride Award, ALTO Award, and Rural Tourism Champion, and Alberta Venture magazine named it among the Top 25 Most Innovative Organizations in Alberta.

Erikson says that his next big project in retirement is establishing relationships between rural and urban organizations and garnering support for rural resources. He would like to see Rosebud stay an intentionally open community and build partnerships so it is strong enough to forge ties with the city. He wants people to feel welcome and comfortable until Rosebud becomes a home for their hearts.

“We are facing the biggest challenge we have ever faced because our rural resources have about bottomed out. So few farms and so little rural support. The government has never taken a serious look at rural sustainability. If we lived in Calgary, the municipal government would be providing a majority of funds,” said Erickson. “Canadian Badlands Ltd. is now Canada’s largest municipal tourist corporation. It is a rural corporation. I can speak as a founder of that, coming from a base of strength that is significant; it is not one lone voice. I can speak on behalf of all of us in rural Alberta and Canada that are facing common struggles”

As to whether Erickson ever considered politics to further his visions, he responded no. 

“I have never felt it in my heart that it was a direction my life would go. I would be more like a John the Baptist; thinking if he stood out in the wilderness, his voice would be heard. Otherwise, it would be overwhelmed by the weight of politics.

He remembers an unidentified quote that went ‘I would trade all the politics in this nation for the songs of the people’. 

“That’s been kind of a guiding principal in my life,” said Erickson.