By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer
He paved the way for a Sarnia General Hospital expansion and had a hand in the creation of Lambton College.
But Mayor Iven Walker is probably best remembered as the man who brought the Queen to Canatara Park.
Born in Petrolia in 1898, he lived in Sarnia almost all his life.
Along with his brother, Fred, he founded the ‘Walker Brothers’ store that was a fixture in the Community for decades. He was also credited with helping to pioneer the mall concept in local retailing.
Walker ran for Council in 1946, winning an Aldermanic seat. In 1959 he was elected Sarnia’s 67th Chief Magistrate.
One of Mayor Walker’s objectives was to have an addition built for Sarnia General and he turned the sod to start the new project.
He also strove to get a university built here and, although the idea was rejected by the Ontario government, Queen’s Park eventually agreed to locate a Community College in Sarnia.
But the highlight of his career came in July 1959, when Mayor Walker decided to invite Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to the City. It seemed like a long shot but, amazingly, the young couple accepted the invitation and the royal yacht ‘Britannia’ sailed up the St, Clair River, docking at a hastily-remodelled Imperial Oil landing pier.
The event created an incredible amount of excitement. Indeed, The Observer reported, “thousands thronged the shores, an armada of small craft circled the royal yacht.
Whistles were deafening, bonfires roaring, children’s rehearsed songs lost in the din. Prince Philip piloted the yacht to the Imperial Oil dock. At Canatara Park formal speeches of welcome were given. Citizens were presented to Her Majesty”.
To prepare for the occasion lights were installed in Canatara, a presentation platform was erected in the Park and hundreds of flowers were planted.
Walker served four years in the Mayor’s chair before stepping down at the end of 1962.
Paul Blundy, who served on Council with him, recalled in later years that Walker was a man who cared deeply about what the public thought on every issue.
He retired in 1973, dying 17 years later on October 2, 1990. He was 92.