Hundreds gathered at St. Cecilia’s Parish on Saturday morning to pay their respects to a woman who represented Calgarians in council for more than two decades.
Former Alderman Sue Higgins passed away on February 16, 2014 following a battle with cancer. She was 78.
During her tenure on council, Higgins embraced the term Alderbroad and fought against a motion changing the term alderman to the gender neutral councillor. Higgins was steadfast in her stance against smoking bylaws in the city and was known for her fiery temper which would reach its apex during council budget time.
Among those in attendance at Higgins’ funeral were Mayor Naheed Nenshi, former mayors Dave Bronconnier and Al Duerr, former aldermen John Schmal, Barry Erskine and Ric McIver, current councillor Ray Jones and CPS Police Chief Rick Hanson.
In honour of Sue Higgins’ contributions to Calgary, an arena in the Acadia Recreation Complex and the dog park at the east end of Southland Drive bear the name of the Alderbroad.
