Gordon L. Haggerty

Gordon Haggerty was born on October 9, 1944 in Camrose, Alberta. He passed away, after a brief illness, at the age of 49 years on Thursday, August 11, 1994.

He leaves to mourn his loss his loving wife, Dr. Mary Ellen; four daughters and two sons; John, Megan, Carolyn, Daniel, Therese, and Anne. He also leaves his father, Del (Suzanne) Haggerty of New Norway, Alberta; his mother-in-law, Olive Rose of Edmonton; ten brothers and sisters, numerous nieces and nephews, and many dear friends. He was predeceased by his mother, Irene in 1960; his father-in-law, Bill Rose in 1972; and his brother-in-law, Reverend Dr. John Rose in 1994.

Gordon completed high school in New Norway, Alberta in 1961, was a graduate in philosophy from St. Joseph's Seminary in Edmonton in 1965, graduated from NAIT with a diploma in surveying in 1969 and received the designation, Master of City Planning from the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba in 1976.

Commission as an Alberta Land Surveyor was received in 1972. Since then, Gordon served on various committees of the ALSA, on Council, and ultimately as President in 1991-1992. Gordon's dedication to the profession of land surveying will not be forgotten.

We all have to admit that Gordon left his impression wherever he went. There was hardly a situation that didn't warrant the poet's pen. His file at the ALSA office is filled with all sorts of poetry - some serious, some humorous, but all a reflection of the type of man he was. Gordon was a very caring individual with a great sense of humour and will be missed by all who knew him.

It wouldn't be right not to include some of Gordon's writings in this column. Wherever he is, most likely he's debating some philosophical point, naturally topped off by a poem. So, for your reading enjoyment and in remembrance of Gordon the following are some writings found in his file.

CADASTRAL TIES
The're a lot of knots that you can try
The bowline, square knot, and fisherman's fly,
The sheepshank, hangman's, and splicing eye;
But most complex of all, the Cadastral Tie.
The Cadastral Tie takes many shapes and forms,
With angles and distances from brass caps born,
Astronomically sighted on Polaris so foreign, R
ecorded in books by Surveyor's sworn.
The Cadastral Tie is intricate bound,
Of lines and sightings on hill tops round,
A flowing array of co-ordinates wound,
Onto iron posts, at the comers found.
So when you're considering, tying a knot,
Whether 'be a true love, or someone you fought;
As a Surveyor -pin down what you ought,
Remembering, things aren't as you thought.

ON NATURE
When I take time to sit and try
To watch the nature pass me by
I feel so happy down within
I find it hard to stop the grin.
Poplar leaves do swish so slow
When e'er a breeze does come or go
While tall blue spruce so straight and high
Do a dance up in the sky.
The sun does shine and play upon
The weeping birch which is so long
While lilac tree does spread self out
To shade the grass which is about.
To take some time on a summer's day
Has more to give than I can say
Stop a moment as if to sigh
You'll see much more than meets the eye

AS IT WAS
Two hundred years more or less to the day,
David Thompson passed this way.
With sextant in hand and eye to the North
He paddles the rivers and charted their course.
Following Thompson the settlement came
But for Township Surveyors it wasn't the same,
For though hardworked and froze to the bone
Someone before them had done it alone.
Someone before them had found it much tougher
And the going before had been a lot rougher,
The winds that now blew had blown a lot longer
And the bears that they fought had been a lot stronger.