Since my husband, Jack Tennant, passed away last month I have been truly blessed by the outpouring of support I have received from family, friends and the community of Cochrane as a whole. The legacy Jack left behind has resonated in this community far more than even I could have fathomed. Not a day has gone by that I have not heard from people who wanted to share a story about Jack or let me know the void his loss has created. I, better than any, knew the kind of man Jack was and the love and passion he had for Cochrane. He was more than a citizen, he was a steward and a champion of this community. I am so honoured, as I know he would be, by the number of people coming forward with ideas about ways to remember Jack’s legacy and immortalize him in our town’s history. The idea of renaming the stretch of Highway 1A that connects Morley to Cochrane is a truly beautiful idea and one I am sure would have touched Jack deeply. He loved Morley and its people as much as he did Cochrane and its residents. Jack was also dedicated to forging a stronger link between our two communities, which makes the naming idea truly fitting and appropriate. However, there is another idea floating around that while truly flattering is something I am positive Jack would not have felt comfortable with. Some have suggested the idea of erecting a statue of Jack somewhere in Cochrane. Though his strong opinions and resolve to fight for the little guy might have some think otherwise, Jack was also humble in his offerings to help. He did so out of a sense of justice and a calling to do what was right, not for recognition or personal gain. A statue would be the wrong way to honour a man who spent his life knocking people off the pedestals they didn’t belong on, he’d never want to be on one himself. Thank you to everyone who has supported my family and me since Jack’s passing and for sharing the heartfelt memories. For me, that is enough of a legacy and the true testament to the man Jack was. He would much rather live on in people’s hearts than be cast as an idol.
