Honorary street name to recognize Jim Penner

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This article was published 20/11/2022 (909 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Steinbach city council unanimously approved a resolution to create an honorary street name for former Steinbach MLA and Penner Foods owner Jim Penner.

The request, from Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen, was the first to be considered by council since an honorary street naming policy was approved in April.

That policy gave people the right to suggest an honorary designation which, if approved, is then applied to existing street signs as an addition. It will not change the official street sign or civic addresses.

Goertzen said his first job was at Penner Foods and described Jim Penner as a man who was extremely generous, paying his employees more than he had to. In fact, Goertzen said his first salary helped him pay for his post-secondary education.

“I thought he would be a worthy recipient of an honorary street name,” he told The Carillon.

In his letter to council, Goertzen recounted Penner’s record of service, including being elected as the Steinbach MLA in 1999 and serving until 2003. He stepped down after a cancer diagnosis and died a few months later.

Penner was also a partner in the creation of Clearspring Centre, and served as a Steinbach town councillor.

Coun. Michael Zwaagstra made the motion to approve the designation.

“Mr. Jim Penner does seem exactly like the type of person that we would consider doing an honorary street naming for,” he said.

Mayor Earl Funk agreed.

“I think this is a great way to honour a great pioneer in our community,” he said.

The street that will receive the honorary designation was not announced as part of the resolution.