Council paid tribute to well-known and respected ΑπΑ§ΙρΙη resident Marion Bremner at its Mar. 18 meeting.
She died on Mar. 4.
βBremner was an icon in ΑπΑ§ΙρΙη, especially with volunteers and women, she was a trendsetter and a leader,β said Coun. Charlie Hodge.
Bremner was a four-time city councillor, first elected in 1988. She was the first woman director of the ΑπΑ§ΙρΙη chamber in 1978 and became its first woman president in 1985. She was also named the 2021 Business Leader of the Year in 2021.
Bremner was diagnosed with Lou Gerhrigβs Disease the day after receiving the honour.
βI am so sorry to see Marion go, she struggled so hard with ALS,β Hodge added. βΑπΑ§ΙρΙη has lost a great, great human being.β
Coun. Ron Cannan, who served on council with Bremner, also paid tribute to the woman so well-known for her work with non-profit organizations in the community.
βShe had a servantβs heart,β he said. βShe spent over 50 years as an entrepreneurial leader and wasnβt afraid of a challenge. She also paved the way and opened the doors for other women to follow.β
Cannan noted that Bremner also helped initiate Habitat for Humanity in 1990, and was the organizationβs first woman chair, serving from 1992 to 1996. She spent several years working with Meals on Wheels and caring for seniors.
In 2012 her volunteerism and community work earned her the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Award for community service.
βShe was definitely a leader in so many ways,β Cannan added.
There is a Celebration of Life service for Bremner on Mar. 23 at Willow Park Church beginning at 1 p.m.
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