There is no place like home, and for Kelvington’s Wendel Clark that was never more apparent than during Wendel Clark Day.
Clark returned home to Kelvington to be honoured by the community, with a day on Oct. 21 specially revolving around him.
The day featured a number of activities including a photo and autograph session, and a gala, but the main attraction, was the raising of the Wendel Clark banner.
The banner, which hung in the Air Canada Centre in Toronto from 2008-16, was taken down last year after the Leafs decided to retire the numbers of 17 players, including Clark’s, instead of just having them honoured.
With the Leafs not needing the banner to hang from the rafters anymore, they determined they would send them all back to the hometowns of the honoured players.
Clark said it has seemed to come full circle, “where I played as a kid and Toronto’s where I finished.”
“I played 13 of my 15 years, so to have that connection from where I started to where I ended and it’s all in the same building, I think it’s very exciting,” noted Clark of having that banner hang on the wall of the arena.
“It’s a piece of history... you saw a large portion of the crowd get very choked up when that banner was raised and that’s exactly the reason why is because of what Wendel means to the community,” noted Wendel Clark Day chair Lorelle Holowaty Halderman.
“To have a piece of Wendel here for all the kids for generations to come to look up to with that. It’s just something so special and honourable that I can’t say enough,” she says.
For Kelvington Mayor Tracey Sauer, seeing that banner in the Kelvington rink is a great way of keeping memories alive and provides motivation for the youth of the community.
“Keep working hard, keep your dreams and this could be you someday if you work hard and are dedicated like Wendel. It’s just one more thing that shows that a small town hero is very important and that’s how we feel about Wendel.”
In addition to having a banner hang from the wall of the arena, the Town of Kelvington sprung a little surprise on Clark, as Railway Ave. would be renamed Wendel Clark Way in his honour.
Sauer noted that they decided to name the street in his honour as a way of showing how much they enjoy being able to call themselves the home of Wendel Clark.
“We have streets with the last name of prominent people in town but we never actually specifically named a street after anybody so we thought that would be a good way to show Wendel that we mean what we’re saying.”
That exact street had significance as well, noted Sauer, since it runs by both the elevator and the arena.
“Those are two really important aspects in his life and that he talks about a lot. So we felt that would give him a lot more meaning and we just really appreciated that he always remembered us, he always remembered home and he’s always so humble.”
The significance of the location was not lost on Clark, who admitted it was a big honour, and is a great way to tie his youth together.
“There’s 24 hours in a day, 12 were spent on the farm and 12 were spent in the rink. Should I throw school in there somewhere?” he laughed.
“A couple hours at school too but that’s a big part of my life right there so having that street named was very exciting.”
Holowaty Halderman noted the name of the street was very apropos.
“Wendel’s always done things his way, obviously a very popular way and so we just thought it very appropriate to name the street Wendel Clark Way.”
Having Clark back in town and being able to celebrate him, means everything, noted Holowaty Halderman.
“Nationally, everyone knows what kind of a guy he is, he just is give, give, give. So for us to be able to honour him and celebrate by organizing this event for him is just a real honour for us.”
The gala wrapped up the whole day and was a fundraiser for the arena which sold out in an hour and a half, which was expected, said Holowaty Halderman.
“It all goes back to who we’re honouring. Just a great cause, but more it’s a piece of history and people want to participate in a historical event like that.”
With minor hockey registrations declining, the Kelvington Rec. Board needs to find other ways to help keep the rink functioning, and the gala is one way of doing that, noted Holowaty Halderman, who said a number of items within the building need to be fixed, updated, or replaced.
“It costs a lot of money to run a rink during the winter so this event is just going to help us in so many ways.”
Looking back on the whole day, Sauer says it was just about pride.
“We are very proud to say that we are the home of Wendel Clark and I know that that line gets used all the time. It’s a really great thing to recognize one of your own the way we can with Wendel.”
