Shirley Gratton became the 13th recipient of the Freeman of the City award on Monday. The highest civic honour can only be bestowed by a unanimous vote of city council.
Gratton was the first person the current city council has put forward for the award, which honours "exceptional merit and contribution" to the community, according to Mayor Shari Green.
Anne Martin was the last person to be named Freeman of the City when she was given the honour in April 2010.
Former mayors have made up the bulk of past recipients, with five of the six mayors who served between 1958 and 2008 earning the honour including: Colin Kinsley, John Backhouse, Garvin Dezell, Carrie Jane Gray and Harold Moffat. Other recipients over the years have included pastor Lance Morgan; founding city solicitor Peter Wilson; former B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Owen Wilson; and local historian Ted Williams.
Two organizations have also been awarded the key to the city, the Rocky Mountain Rangers Royal Canadian Army Cadets Corps and Canadian Forces Station Baldy Hughes.
