
A parcel of land in the hamlet of Cathedral Bluffs that was once bald prairie is now a four-season park affectionately dubbed by residents as the ‘heart’ of the community.
A ceremony to officially dedicate the Ken and Dr. Helen Horsman Park was held on Saturday, September 11.
“Four years ago, there was literally nothing there,” said Cathedral Bluffs Community Association member Lori Pollock. “Now we have children’s playground equipment, a warm-up chalet for the open-air rink in the wintertime, a sports park, a ball diamond, a zip-line hill, a new pavilion, a beautiful walking path along with many newly-planted trees, and a detached garage for storage.
“It’s pretty amazing how it’s all come together thanks to the many volunteers who’ve pitched in over the years.”
But it would never have happened without a special person who stepped up to lead the initiative.

“Dr. Helen Horsman has been absolutely instrumental in getting the whole thing organized,” said Mandy Heidt, another member of the Cathedral Bluffs Community Association. “Helen is chair of our hamlet board and community association board. She was the person who applied for funding.”
Pollock said a few years ago, Helen Horsman was asked to chair the hamlet board. At the time, Helen’s husband Ken Horsman had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS – also commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
“Ken was very sick, and Helen originally declined the nomination to chair the board because she said her focus was taking care of Ken,” said Pollock. “But Ken said her, ‘Actually, Helen, I think you should do it. You need other things in your life, and your community needs you.’

“So Helen agreed to chair the hamlet association board and community association board, and in doing that, she was the person who figured out how to apply for funds from the RM of Corman Park to get the project underway.”
Pollock said Helen took on the project, and the responsibility of leading both the hamlet board and community association, at a very busy and difficult time in her life.
“She’s an inspiration for the community,” said Pollock.
At the Cathedral Bluffs annual general meeting in 2019, a suggestion was put forward to name the park in honour of Helen and Ken Horsman. The motion passed unanimously.
A large sign in honour of Ken and Dr. Helen Horsman was unveiled September 11 at the entrance to the park.
“The park is a lasting gift,” added Heidt. “It’s a legacy, in a way, to all the hard work put tin by Helen and all the volunteers that will last for generations.”
Pollock said Helen Horsman is an inspiration to other members of the community.
“She’s our fearless leader,” said Pollock. “One of the reason’s she’s so inspirational, is that when she calls a work bee, she’s always the first person there and the last one to leave. She always drives her own tractor to the park to tackle whatever needs doing. She calls that ‘her therapy’. She never asks someone to do something that she wouldn’t do herself.
“That’s the mark of a real leader.”

The park includes a bench along the walking path named in honour of the late Jim Christie, a longtime resident of Cathedral Bluffs and a former chair of the Corman Park Police Commission.
Heidt said 800 meters of walking path is paved and allows accessibility for wheelchairs.
“A couple of residents of the hamlet are in wheelchairs and we wanted everyone to be able to use the park, the chalet and the pavilion,” said Heidt. “It’s truly a place where all members of the community can gather.”