P.E.I. park to honour of Mi’kmaw runner

Michael Thomas was probably the greatest lengthy distance runners of his period.

In 1911, he was the primary Prince Edward Islander to ever run the Boston Marathon. He completed twenty sixth that yr.

His nice granddaughter Rebecca Thomas follows in his footsteps with a significant first of her personal. She served as the primary Mi’kmaw poet laureate for Nova Scotia.

An avid runner herself, she’s attended Stratford, P.E.I.’s annual Michael Thomas race.

“To have the ability to run by his statue that was a reasonably cool expertise for me,” mentioned Thomas. “I feel that with the ability to do something generationally and understanding that you simply come from a lineage like that does really feel good — instills a way of pleasure.”

Thomas by no means met her great-grandfather, who died in 1954, however her father informed her tales about him.

“From the tales that my dad informed, and tells about him, as sparse as they might be, they have been at all times very sort tales,” mentioned Thomas. “I hope that I can embody that very same sort of kindness and generosity.”

Thomas says it’s vital to honour Mi’kmaq individuals from our historical past, however says she feels this must be only one step.

“You simply can’t cease at that time and say, ‘OK, nicely that’s part of reconciliation,’” mentioned Thomas. “There’s extra work to be completed than merely naming one thing after somebody.”

The park will go in on the Stratford waterfront, only a quick distance from the place a statue of Micheal Thomas stands now.

“He grew up not removed from right here. His home stood someplace between the place we at the moment are and the freeway over there,” mentioned Steve Ogden, mayor of Stratford, standing close to the statue. “We’re undecided precisely the place, however we all know that that is the world that he was born and he lived in for various years.”

Ogden says Michael Thomas’ contribution is a crucial a part of island historical past.

“We need to honour him, and we need to honour his household, and the Mi’kmaq individuals by placing the waterfront park and naming it after him,” mentioned Ogden. “As a result of it’s a very large a part of our historical past, and one thing that we will all be very happy with.”

As soon as full, the park will probably be a reminder of the accomplishment of a trailblazing Mi’kmaw athlete and his legacy in island sport.