By Melanie Penner

Morden’s “Guiding Spirits” were in the spotlight of a special exhibit at the Chautauqua Celebration Festival this past weekend.

The walk through display honored individuals who have helped make the Town of Morden a unique community and highlighted their achievements, ethnic heritage and contribution.

Diana Wiebe created the display for the Cultural Capitals of Canada Chautauqua Spirit project.

Wiebe said people walking through the display seemed mesmerized by the stories told on each of the panels.

The display featured nine different categories - from business to healthcare to community service, and highlighted 31 past or present Mordenites.

Wiebe said choosing which individuals to recognize, was not easy.

At the outset she was given guidelines for the components and criteria of the display. It was to be mobile and recognize people who have contributed to Morden in some unique way.

Wiebe said she wanted the display to create a “face for Morden” and to educate, create awareness and celebrate the people that have helped make the community unique.

There are many things about Morden that make us unique, said Wiebe, from the walkway initiatives of Ron Laverty to its vibrant Remembrance Day Service and support for the legion by Maurice Butler.

People that have distinguished themselves in a larger sphere such as Loreena McKennitt and David Rabinovitch were included, as well as some of the communities forward thinkers, Henry Isaac and Don Bell.

Wiebe also recognized the public and private sectors with John Buhler, John Wiens Jr. and Sr., Ruth (Doern) and Howard Winkler.

And then there are the unsung heroes, like Hank Unrau and Ivadell Sigurdson, noted Wiebe, the encouraging, quiet workers that just do what they do and don’t expect anything in return.

“Many of these people consider the work they do part of life, but they have gone way beyond,” said Wiebe.

Also recognized for their community involvement are Howard Sager, Pat Plett, Joe Wiwchar, Jim Menzies, Bob Menzies, Lenore Laverty, Durwin Buchy, and Basil Agnew, as well as past residents Henry Friesen, and Ramsay Cook.

The late Paul Sigurdson, Wayne Bergrman, Rev. Frank Henry Friesen, A.P Stevenson, A.F. Menzies, Henry Marshall, and Rev. George Cook were also highlighted.

Wiebe said it was very rewarding to see all the work come together during the Chautauqua Celebration Festival.

“At one point I turned around to look at the display and there was at least one person standing at each panel, they just seemed drawn to the faces,” she said.

The discussion and memories that resulted from the display is what pleased Wiebe the most.

“The trick, I think, was that the information came straight from the individuals themselves or from family and friends. There was a lot of anecdotal history and quotes in the write up,” she noted.

However, Wiebe said the most difficult part was to limit the stories and quotes to 200 words or less and still capture their life.

The display now belongs to town and the Chautauqua Spirit committee, and what is in store for it next is uncertain.

But Wiebe said people have been adamant that it not be put into storage and that it be utilized in some way. Because the display is mobile and self standing there is the option to split up the panels for display at various locations.