Spirit Park to be renamed in honour of Anmore founder

After getting a few helpful words from the founder’s family on Tuesday evening, Anmore is set to honour the village’s first mayor, Hal Weinberg.

Weinberg died in January at the age of 90.

Weinberg’s daughter Sarah attended Tuesday’s meeting, thanking council for their plans to support Weinberg’s scholarship fund and to amend the name of Spirit Park to Dr. Hal Weinberg Spirit Park.

However, Sarah Weinberg expressed a concern regarding a plaque that would accompany a photo of her father at the Anmore Community Hub.

The village initially planned to identify Weinberg as an Order of B.C. recipient and to list the dates he served as mayor as well as the dates of his birth and death.

“We do feel that the wording on the plaque is a bit simplistic and just doesn’t really encompass his true spirit and nature,” Sarah told council on Tuesday.

Sarah suggested the plaque could read: “Hal Weinberg, founding Mayor of Anmore and visionary whose innovative spirit, love of collaboration and belief in diversity helped shape this community.”

The idea garnered unanimous support from council, with Coun. Paul Weverink emphasizing the importance of preserving Weinberg’s legacy.

“We are going to get a point in Anmore where people are going to say – it probably already does happen – ‘Who’s Hal Weinberg?’ Well, that little quote says a lot about him,” Weverink said.

Tracy Green lauded the tribute to Weinberg, noting his love of Spirit Park as well as the longtime university professor’s commitment to education. Green added that she was looking forward to visiting the Hub.

“I can’t wait to see Hal’s smiling face,” she said.

The Hal Weinberg scholarship fund – which is slated to be increased from $1,000 to $3,000 – is set to be included in Anmore’s 2025 budget.

Council also voted to set aside $2,000 to pay for new park signs and to host a celebration at the rechristened Dr. Hal Weinberg Spirit Park.

The name “Anmore” dates back to 1917, when homesteader Franklin John Lancaster combined the names of his wife and daughter – Annie and Leonore – and added an ‘m.’

However, the area was officially part of Electoral Area B as late as 1987.

In an effort to keep the distinct, semi-rural community from becoming part of Port Moody and undergoing a population boom, Weinberg worked on a plan that would allow for a “ruggedly individual way of life” with limited services, and houses on acreage.

That concept of small-scale government and large-scale wilderness garnered support from a vast majority of residents.

More than 88 percent of the area’s 333 voters supported incorporation and, on Dec. 7, 1987, Anmore officially became a village.

Weinberg served as the village’s first mayor, stewarding Anmore for more than 20 years.