For more than 20 years the name David Parker has been synonymous with the Calgary Herald's beloved business column "Around Town," which featured numerous local entrepreneurs with big dreams. When Parker announced his plans to retire this past February, it seemed only right that something be done to carry on that inspirational legacy.
In tribute to more than 25 years supporting the Calgary business community, friends and colleagues of Calgary Herald writer David Parker have established a new MRU journalism and digital media scholarship in his name. Photo by Gavin Young, Postmedia.
Determined to properly celebrate the last chapter in Parker's impressive career, long time reader and supporter Larry Mason took up the mantle of fundraiser and launched a one-man campaign to establish a scholarship honouring Parker's legacy. As the currently retired former president of Remington Development Corporation, Mason spent many years building strong relationships in Calgary's business community. His fundraising took a personal approach through reaching out to his own contacts as well as many of the people and organizations Parker's column positively impacted throughout his career.
The David Parker Scholarship in Journalism and Digital Media was born from the gratitude and generosity of those who Parker's work touched most.
"After establishing a scholarship in honour of my wife Svea Craig-Mason, the former chair of Mount Royal's Department of Interior Design, I thought a scholarship would be the perfect way to recognize David and everything he meant to Calgary," Mason says. "I reached out to contacts I'd built over many years in the real estate industry, and many of them reached out to others in turn. The response was overwhelming, and we reached our fundraising goal in a remarkably short time."
Parker's work did more than keep readers informed about business in Calgary. It inspired Calgarians to do more to take business challenges in stride and to reach for greater heights when the economy boomed. Throughout his career Parker stood alongside Calgary's innovators and entrepreneurs, shining a light on their triumphs and, in his own way, helping their dreams become reality.
Mason's campaign tapped into a community of business leaders and entrepreneurs who shared his drive to celebrate a career of consistent positivity that never failed to lift spirits. This award will carry on Parker's legacy of motivation and hopefulness even in retirement ensuring future MRU students have the financial freedom to pursue journalism and digital media.
I thought a scholarship would be the perfect way to recognize David and everything he meant to Calgary.Larry Mason
Paying forward positive impact
From cheering on the launch of new businesses to seeking out successes hidden during recessions, Parker's column always brought a bright outlook. Parker made the effort to join Calgarians throughout the city's watershed moments, from the official opening of Mount Royal's Lincoln Park Campus in 1972 to the 1998 kick off of construction in Currie Barracks under Canada Lands Corporation. Parker's work spanned the spectrum of business in Calgary featuring the triumphs of entrepreneurs, sharing the ambitions of innovators and calling attention to business leaders that help make Calgary great. His outlook played a major role in why so many have stepped up to fund this legacy scholarship.
Randy Remington, chairman of Remington Development Corporation, is just one of many influential business leaders who answered the call to honour Parker's career. Over the years Parker highlighted several of the organization's accomplishments including the development of Quarry Park from a gravel extraction site into one of the largest mixed business and residential communities in Calgary.
"David has always been a great friend to the building industry and the city of Calgary," Remington says. Remington Development Corp. continues to shape Calgary today, not only through construction but also community. His team hosts events to support the causes Calgarians care about and Parker's column shined a light on those efforts. "He always had a good news story about projects being built in and around Calgary. We miss his positivity."
Parker's career has made a difference in the lives of so many Calgarians who now, through Mason's fundraising, have the chance to give back. People put their money behind what matters to them and just one month after fundraising launched for the David Parker Scholarship in Journalism and Digital Media, it blew past its initial $50,000 goal. To see this award reach and exceed its goal in such a short time is a testament to the power of an inspired community celebrating someone who shaped their outlook for the better. Like many of those featured in Parker's work, Remington still feels inspired by Parker's sense of positivity. Through this scholarship that optimism will continue to ripple through the Calgary community.
[David] always had a good news story about projects being built in and around Calgary. We miss his positivity.Randy Remington, chairman of Remington Development Corporation
Keeping the future coming
Parker didn't just write about Calgary, he became a part of its ever changing community watching the city grow and change. From new buildings to new businesses and newly inspired entrepreneurs, Parker has been a champion for Calgary business for more than two decades. In his final article for "Around Town," Putting down the pen after more than 25 years of telling stories of Calgary business, Parker reminisced about his career's journey. He wrote his thanks for "the privilege the Herald has given me to be able to tell positive stories about business people who help make this city the wonderful place it is to live."
Anchoring Parker's legacy of optimism to this student award ensures even in retirement he continues to bring positivity into the lives of others. Scholarships like this empower students to grow, dare them to challenge themselves, inspire them to reach for the future and shape their careers for years to come.
As Parker begins his well-earned retirement, many MRU journalism graduates are just starting their careers. Mason's drive to honour Parker's career and the generous support of donors have already ensured the David Parker Scholarship in Journalism and Digital Media will carry on in perpetuity, shaping the lives of current students and shining a positive light on the future of Calgary.
