100 years is a special feat, and in December, the original “Star Land” reached that milestone.
Starland County, as we know it, is approaching its 70th year. This was an amalgamation of the Municipal Districts of Michichi No. 277, Lambton No. 306 and Star Land No. 307 in 1943.
The original Rural Municipality of Star Land No. 307, comprised just a fraction of the current County, and dates back to 1912.
The County recognized this at their annual Christmas party, and took the time to recognize long term staff who served with the County and elected officials.
“Counting our current Council members, there are only 14 living Council members who are with us at the 100 year mark,” said CAO Ross Rawlusyk at the presentation. “I’m very proud that most of these are with us here tonight, and our planning committee felt that as these elected folks are the foundation of this municipality, we wanted to recognize their contribution to Starland County.”
The Rural Municipality of Star Land No. 307 was formed on December 9, 1912. The municipality at that time included the Morrin, Rumsey and Rowley areas. Its formational meeting was on January 6, 1913 in the schoolhouse in Rowley. Rawlusyk had the minutes from the meeting at the presentations.
The first bylaw was a borrowing bylaw to give them money to operate. Some of the original business included searching out sites for landfills and for cemeteries. They passed a policy to castrate mongrel bulls found at large and began lobbying for a ferry west of Morrin. By April, the municipality was able to purchase three graders for a whopping $765 and four scrapers for $328.
“By June of their first year, they were trying to get tough on the collection of taxes. Some things never change,” quipped Rawlusyk.
Rawlusyk used the occasion to present the area’s former Reeves with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medals.
“During the 60th anniversary year of celebrations, 60,000 deserving Canadians will be recognized. The most important criteria the medal has is that its recipient had to have made a significant contribution to a particular province, territory, region or community within Canada, or an achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada,” said Rawlusyk. “I am pleased and honoured to announce that the five individual Council members who have served as Reeves of Starland County have been accepted as recipients of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.”
They included Norman Stanger who served from 1982-1987, Art Grenville who served from 1990-2001, Barry McLeod who served from 2004-2007 and Barrie Hoover, who has served from 2007 to present.
Norman Stanger, centre, served as Reeve of Starland County from 1982-1987. He was presented the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by Starland CAO Ross Rawlusyk, left, and Assistant CAO Shirley Bremer.
Art Grenville, centre, served as Reeve of Starland County from 1990-2001. He was presented the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by Starland CAO Ross Rawlusyk, left, and Assistant CAO Shirley Bremer.
Barry McLeod, centre, served as Reeve of Starland County from 2004-2007. He was presented the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by Starland CAO Ross Rawlusyk, left, and Assistant CAO Shirley Bremer.
Barrie Hoover centre, served as Reeve of Starland County from 2007 to the present. He was presented the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by Starland CAO Ross Rawlusyk, left, and Assistant CAO Shirley Bremer.
