The District of Kent recently honoured its roots in a special way.
In honour of the 125th anniversary of the District of Kent, the anniversary committee and the district presented long-standing heritage families with the 125th Anniversary Heritage Recognition Award.
The Heritage Recognition Award was presented to families that established themselves in the district from just before 1895 up to 1950 who still have living descendants residing in the district. Between the Seabird Island community and the District of Kent, more than 130 families were recognized.
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The families were honoured in a video presentation played at the Dec. 13 council meeting in Agassiz. Representatives of the families will receive a commemorative medal, district pin and a memories book.
The district recognized 27 families from the Seabird Island community, including former Chief Clement Seymour. The district credited Serena Peters for the research; Peters is the coordinator of the Genealogy Project at Seabird Island. There were no specific establishing years released for the Seabird Island families receiving the award.
The oldest family recognized by year is the Walker family (William and Mary), whose roots were traced back to 1860. Residents may recognize several of the names listed in the pre-incorporation list as street names, such as Inkman, Ashton Morrow and Probert.
RELATED: CELEBRATING 125: District of Kent Council revisits 1895
The District of Kent was incorporated in 1895 with A. St. George Hammersley as reeve and Harry Fooks as clerk.
The district thanked volunteers Bev Kennedy, Valerie Edmondson, Marlene Sand and Carol Mackay who specifically researched the families using the criteria for the Heritage Recognition Awards.
If any families have been inadvertently missed, family members may contact Jennifer Thornton, the district’s director of community services and projects, at 604-796-2235.
For a complete list of families honoured with the Heritage Recognition Award in addition to bits of the district’s 125-year history and beyond, visit kentbc.ca.
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