By Thia James

POLL: Mayor to proclaim July 18 Nelson Mandela Day

Dec 10, 2013 | 5:27 AM

On a day when international dignitaries gathered in South Africa to honour that nation’s former president Nelson Mandela, the mayor of the City of Prince Albert announced it too would honour the late leader.

Mayor Greg Dionne will proclaim July 18 Nelson Mandela Day in the city, at the suggestion of Coun. Don Cody. On this day, citizens will be encouraged to perform 67 minutes of work in the community.

“On July the 18th, it will be 67 years since Nelson Mandela started his quest to do public service,” Cody told the other members of council late in Monday’s council meeting, the final of the year.

“What great public service this individual did.”

Mandela’s service to the public is known the world over—a political activist with the African National Congress prior to his imprisonment, he fought against apartheid, a system of segregating people of different races.

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He was imprisoned for nearly three decades until his 1989 release, which set the tides of political change in South Africa in motion. He became the country’s first black president, replacing the long-standing apartheid rule.

Cody said he listened to many televised reports about Mandela. “You know, it almost brings tears to your eyes, the things that that individual went through. Twenty-seven years in jail, and come out and did what he did to make democracy a truth in South Africa. The stuff he had to go through and the endurance he had in jail was just unbelievable.”

He said those of us who live in a democracy have a responsibility to help out. “And certainly the City of Prince Albert is always one city who has helped out.”

The mayor quickly accepted Cody’s idea. After the meeting, he called the day “very important.”

“I’m also going to get our communications department and our other people, and our volunteers and community club(s) to work on that day. Because, I think that’s a great idea to bring your community together and to recognize one of the greatest leaders that we’ve seen in my generation.”

Mandela died on Thursday at the age of 95. His state funeral will be held on Sunday.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames