Being named Mr. Lloydminster is quite an accomplishment.
In my delving back in time I discovered Archie Miller was given that title.
Initially, I thought to myself, maybe I could be Mr. Lloydminster … how much could Miller have done?
Well, it turns out, he did basically everything.
He was part of the Fish and Game Association, the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce, and Lloydminster Elks Lodge. He was also made an honorary chief of the Onion Lake Band where he was given the title, Chief Big Bear.
He received the Queen’s Silver Medal and was inducted into the Kinsmen Hall of Fame. He worked as a storekeeper, fur buyer, and farmer and spent most of his life as a Sunlife Assurance Rep.
To top it all off, he learned to speak Cree while working for the Dominion Land Survey in 1912 north of Meadow Lake.
He even spent lots of time as a timekeeper at hockey games. People described Miller as, “always having a cheerful smile.” He was Lloydminster’s ambassador of goodwill.
Miller arrived in Lloyd at the same time as the colonists and has been involved in basically everything the city has to offer, cementing his place as the definitive Mr. Lloydminster.
With the news of Miller’s endless accomplishments, I will pursue a new title instead, Mr. Storyteller – Lloydminster. Unfortunately, I don’t have a multiple-paragraph list of items I’ve accomplished, it would likely fit into a single sentence.
The title may not be as snazzy as Miller’s, but it’s far more achievable. Of course, I haven’t cemented myself in the position, there are plenty of amazing storytellers and media figures in Lloydminster that are also in the running for this newly made-up title.
I think getting the opportunity to tell stories is cool, too. Maybe one day I’ll have something named after me, like a sandwich shop, or café.
Read more: Column: The not-so-firm border markers
