Jennifer Huber
Gerry Argue Outlook
Left to right. Minister of Gov. Relations Lori Carr, Honorable Gordon Barnhart (President of Municipalities of Saskatchewan), Mayor Tom Fulcher of RV Sunset Cove.
Gerry’s lengthy commitment and service to the community spanned 45 years.
Saskatchewan has approximately 100,000 lakes and rivers, so it comes as no surprise that after emerging from our long prairie winters, we have always wanted to escape to the sandy shores and refreshing waters of our lakes. Sunset Cove is no exception. Established in 1959, the land along the North Shore of Last Mountain Lake was originally purchased from local landowner Johnny Dale. Then, the new residents had to access Sunset Cove via a makeshift road through a cattle pasture until they eventually saved enough money to build the proper road that exists today.
Early 1960’s - Chubby Checker is Twisting, ‘Rawhide’ was droving the ratings, Bouffants are the bee’s knees, and after being introduced to it by their good friends Erna and John Stinnen, Gerry and Wilma Argue are on their way to Sunset Cove. Little did Erna and John know at the time, but like ripples on Last Mountain Lake’s water, this one introduction had a profound effect on the community’s success today.
Gerry put the word out. Other families started to come to the community, including the Singer family, who lists the complicated family links of who came when and in what order. Jamie Singer, a former Councillor, worked with Gerry when he was mayor. “Working with Gerry was easy because he had all the knowledge; he is a resource we miss dearly. He was a great friend to everybody; he made it a community, a close-knit community.”
In attendance for the ceremony was Gerry and Wilma’s daughter, Shawna, son in law Kent, brothers Harold, Blair, sister in law Marge, Minister of Government Relations Lori Carr, former Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan and President of Municipalities of Saskatchewan Gordon Barnhart, Mayor Tom Fulcher plus friends and neighbours.
“For 45 years, Gerry looked out for our community. Now our community will have a lookout for Gerry.” -Resort Village of Sunset Cove (RVSC) Mayor Tom Fulcher.
Immediately apparent from the attendees is that Gerry loved this place and the people in it. Gerry is credited as the force behind the success of RVSC, as he was its staunchest advocate. In 1968 Gerry brought it from the status of an unorganized hamlet to an organized hamlet. Then after years of lobbying the government in 1983, it was granted the status of Resort Village. Mayor Fulcher describes it as “he eventually wore them down...Gerry gave our resort village the best gift anyone could’ve given a resort village. He gave us our autonomy. We are now our own community, thanks to Gerry.”
Gerry’s daughter, Shawna, speaking with emotion about her dad and what the dedication means to her family, “it’s a very important time to recognize my dad’s contribution to the village. He created the place that we all love to come to, so it’s very special.” When asked what her dad would’ve thought of the day’s event, Shawna grins and laughs, imagining what her dad’s words would have been, “Tom, what are you doing spending all that money I worked so hard to save! He also would be very pleased.” Mayor Fulcher echoed a similar sentiment as he laughingly looks up to the sky, explaining to Gerry, “we came in way under budget, mostly by donation and the upkeep is almost zero,” ending with, “so Gerry, let me win this one.”
Honourable, Gordon Barnhart describes Gerry as a pioneer in the trend towards community’s attaining Resort Village Status, “Resort villages are proportionately the fastest growing sector within our organization.”
Minister Lori Carr described Gerry as a champion; “it is people like Gerry that make small-town Saskatchewan vibrant for us today and for our children tomorrow.” She dedicated and unveiled the plaque saying, “Let this plaque and this lookout forever celebrate his memory and his legacy.”
I recommend if you have an opportunity to visit Sunset Cove on one of our beautiful Saskatchewan summer days, you will find at the top of the lane to the boat launch, a little path to Gerry’s Lookout. Here beside the natural cactus growing on the hillside, on a former cattle pasture, overlooking the boats lazily floating in their slips, you can gaze upon the waters of Last Mountain Lake. Gerry’s plaque is there. He is pictured on the water, a trailblazer, the sun shining on his face, a big grin and a drink in hand. You can almost hear the theme song to Rawhide, and you know he would be deeply proud of this lakeside community he helped build with family and friends.
- Jennifer Huber