Prince Albert Arts Centre renamed to honour Margo Fournier during ceremony

Among those in attendance were many of Margo’s children and grand children as well as local dignitaries, including MLA Alana Ross and Mayor Greg Dionne. Dionne said that the City’s decision to rename the Arts Centre was a no brainer.

“It took us two seconds to rename this building,” he said. “Why it took two seconds to rename it is because lots of us on council did not know Margo well, but we know the family. No matter what event you go to or celebration, the Fournier name is present and I think that’s one of the biggest gifts her and her husband gave us, was her children.”

Born Marguerite Helen Leblond in Rosthern on August 16, 1919, she grew up in Prince Albert and was an accomplished singer and dancer, joining the Royal Canadian Air Force as an entertainer during WWII and toured bases in Canada, Britain, and continental Europe.

Some of Margo’s personal belongs were on display at the Arts Centre, including a pair of her dancing shoes from WWII. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

While in Prince Albert, she devoted her life encouraging the musical and athletic talents of many generations of Prince Albert’s youth and was best known as the founder and director of the Prince Albert Boys’ Choir, which received national and international recognition. She went on to marry Prince Albert’s L.J. “Pluke” Fournier of the Canadian Auxiliary Corps and with his guidance, she also taught and coached swimming and diving.

The two had seven children together and one of their sons, Willy, flew in from Montreal to be a part of the special day and spoke on behalf of the family, calling her a hero.

“It’s an acknowledgement of a woman who really was… always in the realm of beyond,” he said. “She would look at people around her, especially youth, and say ‘this is what they secretly want to do’ and she could get them to do things they never imagined they could do. And that built their confidence, not only to do what they did with her, but to do it in a whole range of different things. You see that in my brothers, and you see that in other people in the family.”

The plaque that sits next to the front door of the newly renamed Margo Fournier Arts Centre. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

“Can you think of anybody else from this community who’s had such a multigenerational impact?” he continued. “Because the kids of the guys she’s coached and taught like when she was the director of the choir, their kids were also in choirs with her and there’s that multigenerational impact and they all have the same standards, they’re all pursuing things that they never thought they could do before.”

Margo was named Prince Albert’s Citizen of the Year in the 1960’s and was appointed the only woman to the Saskatchewan Youth Review and Advisory Commission in 1965, who made major recommendations to the Provincial Government regarding developing Saskatchewan’s youth.

For her work with youth through music, she was presented the Optimist Club Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music and the Award of Merit by both the Saskatchewan and Canadian Parks and Recreation Associations. In 1983, Margo was inducted into the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honour, for her work with youth in music and for her contribution to the development of musical education in the community of Prince Albert. She passed away on July 22, 2000, at the age of 81.

The building was constructed in 1893 and served as the Prince Albert Town Hall and Opera House. It was recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada on November 23, 1984.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

by Logan Lehmann

Prince Albert Arts Centre renamed to honour Margo Fournier during ceremony

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