The former owner and publisher of the Cochrane Eagle will be honoured at Cochrane's inaugural tribute event next month.
The former owner and publisher of the Cochrane Eagle will be honoured at Cochrane's inaugural tribute event next month.
“I think that in any community throughout Canada there are individuals that stand out and make a difference in the community … and I think Jack (Tennant) has earned the acknowledgment. Jack has definitely been one who has made a difference over a very long period of time, ” said Dan Kroffat, organizer of the event and long-time friend of Tennant.
At 80-years-old, the media mogul turned real estate agent has an interesting resume dating back to the 1950s when Tennant started in journalism at the Brandon Sun as a photographer.
Since the early beginnings, Tennant's resume grew over the years with position titles including columnist and city editor for The Albertan, columnist for the Calgary Sun, owner of several weekly publications in Southern Alberta such as Cochrane This Week, Airdrie Echo, Crossfield Chronicle, Olds Albertan, Rockyview Times, Calgary Golfer and the Cochrane Eagle.
In between his busy life, Tennant always found time to volunteer including giving his time to the Cochrane & Area Humane Society, the Cochrane Foundation, helping and volunteering at the Eagle's Nest Stoney Family Shelter in Morley, starting the Salvation Army SUNshine Fund, and he used to famously dress up as Santa Claus for the youth in Morley.
“Jack has always been a strong supporter of worthy causes, he is a dedicated individual, ” Kroffat said.
Jack retired from the newspaper industry in 2012 when he sold the Eagle to Great West Newspapers and now works as a real estate professional with Royal LePage Allstar in Cochrane. Tennant received his real estate licence one week before his 79th birthday two years ago.
“I always thought it is part of the media's responsibility to give back to the community - it is quite an honour to have people thank me, ” Tennant said.
Tennant's friends, Kroffat and Cochrane Toyota owner Alex Baum, started brainstorming the tribute event about a month ago to honour Tennant because of all he has done for his community. The hope is the tribute will become an annual event to honour notable Cochranites.
“It is really something - I'm the luckiest guy in the world to be around this long and in this town, ” Tennant said.
“It has been a great life and it's not over yet. ”
Tennant is also a former recipient of the Cochrane Community Awards for Citizen of the Year in 2010 and Order of Cochrane in 2015, he has two Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medals for community service and has also been presented with an eagle feather from Stoney Nakoda First Nation for promoting good relations between the communities.
“I think this is a tradition that I hope Cochrane will embrace - I like to think of this as a step in the right direction of acknowledging local individuals in Cochrane who make a positive difference in the community, ” Kroffat said.
The Tribute event for Tennant will be held Dec. 6 at Killarney's, located at 240 Riverview Dr. with doors to open at 6 p.m.
There is no admission but limited seating. Organizers are asking people to RVSP to Dan Kroffat at [email protected].
