Katherine Ens and Bill desBarres unveil the plaque honouring John Ens Saturday morning at Safety City. -- NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
Medicine Hat News
A large group of Hat community members gathered Saturday at Safety City Medicine Hat to remember and honour John Ens, who was instrumental in bringing Safety City to Medicine Hat.
Gas City Kiwanis Club member Bill desBarres says Ens was a stand-up guy who never wanted any recognition for the work he did in the community.
“John was a proud member of this community and everything he did had that community in mind,” said desBarres, who spoke before unveiling a plaque which now sits in the Safety City office. “We wanted to do something to remember John and we thought doing it at Safety City would be the perfect place.”
deBarres says he remembers Ens always being at Safety City doing things like fixing the lights or sweeping up the lanes.
Ens’ family was in attendance, and his daughter Pat says she was very happy to see her dad’s legacy honoured.
“It means a lot to us to see everyone remembering our dad,” she said. “Most of us had moved out by the time he was working on Safety City. but we know how much work he put into this project, and we know how much this place meant to him.”
