In memory of well-known community figure Phil Lane, the Lac La Biche Natural Gas Co-op is awarding a one-time $500 scholarship in his name.
Lane was a long-time municipal councillor and the gas co-op’ s manager for over two decades. The co-op’ s current staff credit him with keeping the organization going through rough times. Lane passed away March 26.
“It’ s a special thing to honour Phil Lane, because he had so many years with our gas co-op and did so much to build it,” said Shari Hill, the co-op’ s office administrator.
David Bliss, who took over management of the co-op after Lane retired, says he and the co-op’ s 2,100 members throughout rural Lac La Biche County have Lane to thank for keeping the organization afloat.
“Phil brought the co-op through some tough times in early years, and drove its growth,” said Bliss.
The scholarship will be awarded to a graduating student starting post-secondary studies, whose family is a member of the gas co-op, based on academic performance and extracurriculars as judged by the co-op’ s board of directors.
“Eligible candidates will have to either have their own accounts in good standing, or their parents have to be members of the gas co-op in good standing,” said Hill. “We need to know they’ re going into a post-secondary program, but it doesn’ t have to be gas or energy related. We don’ t limit it to that.”
The Phil Lane scholarship is being awarded in addition to the co-op’ s regular $500 yearly scholarship, which is awarded based on similar criteria but is also open to returning post-secondary students.
Applications will be accepted from 2015 grads until July 31. The Board of Directors will select the winner at their August meeting, and will formally present the scholarship at the co-op’ s annual general meeting in September.
The gas co-op has been providing energy to rural residents of the Lac La Biche region for 42 years.
Hill said Lane was instrumental in attaining government grants, signing up more members and ensuring the organization kept running. Today, Bliss says the organization is making a profit which they are reinvesting into new infrastructure.
A celebration of Lane’ s life will be held on Saturday, April 25 at the Evangelical Free Church. The event is open to the public and begins at 2 p.m. A reception will be held following the church gathering at McArthur Place at 3:30 p.m.