Burns Wood is Chamber’s Citizen of the Year

Times File Photo

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalist Initiative Reporter

Each year at this time, the Taber and District Chamber of Commerce rolls out the proverbial red carpet for Taber’s exemplary residents. It gives out Business and Citizen of the Year awards, an award for Customer Service Excellence and the Spirit of Taber award.

The Chamber celebrates the winners at a gala, which goes this week on Friday at Star on 54th. This year’s Citizen of the Year is Burns Wood, who is right up there as a longstanding and outstanding senior resident of Taber and the MD. At 103, he’s the last living veteran of WWII in the region.

A 2022 Times story featured Wood in his 100th year and his perspective was one you won’t get from any other resident. “I was born in Taber in 1922, and my folks came here in 1921 to Taber, so I’ve seen almost the complete growth of this town,” Wood said.

He still lives on a farm outside of Taber, and apart from his time away in the service and at university, he has remained here.

He said he considers Taber and the MD somewhat inseparable due to the fact that the MD almost doubles the population of the town and constantly supports its businesses and services. Chamber of Commerce temporary executive director LeiLani Holst explained that the Citizen of the Year award is finalized through a public nomination process followed by a board discussion and vote.

Holst sent the written portion of Woods’ nomination form to the Times with the nominator’s explanation for choosing Woods as a candidate for the award. The nominator wrote, “Burns will be 104 years old in June. He is such an inspiration to our community. He is the epitome of kindness and humility and service. I have been a friend of Burns for 40 years. He has spoken at over 120 funeral services. He has questioned why he is so often asked to speak at funerals and his daughter had the perfect answer: ‘He has the gift of knowing how to comfort people.’”

The nominator said Burns retired 44 years ago, and remained involved in activities that have influenced others for good. “When he was 60, he became a professional dancer on cruise ships. His job was to dance with the widows and single women who did not have a partner.

Burns was a pilot in the Second World War. He was 21. His war stories are incredibly amazing. He has written a book that contains stories and experiences that are spell-binding.” His powers of recollection are apparently tremendous. “Burns’ memory is intact and his sense of humour alongside,” the nomination form said.

It noted that Wood expresses gratitude consistently, and that studies have shown that an attitude of gratitude correlates with longevity and quality of life. “His life has been one of service to his family, his friends and his country. I can’t think of anyone who deserves recognition for lifelong service of 103-plus years to the community of Taber,” the nominator concluded. Wood reacted to the news of his award with gratitude.

“I have lived here in the MD for over 100 years and had so many wonderful times and occasions occur,” he said. “I raised a family in the MD and am thankful for the advantages the closeness of the Town of Taber has been for us.” “I’m alive because of good medical care, home care and the constant assistance of my family. I’m a lucky man!”