By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
Range Road 3060, which runs alongside the Bizhub Industrial Park and can be found just west of Highway 16, has been renamed “Harwood Road” in honour of Judy Harwood, the former reeve of the RM of Corman Park.
The unveiling of a sign bearing the name “Harwood Road” took place on Friday, October 30, at the junction between the former Range Road 3060 and Yellowhead Road.
Several representatives of the RM of Corman Park, as well as Judy herself and her family, were in attendance at the unveiling.
“I am so humbled by the recognition. This road and name will be here long after I am not,” Judy said. “In the future, some of my great-grandchildren can point at the sign and say, ‘I didn’t meet (great-grandmother) but I do know about her, and here is her name.’ Thank you so much.”
As noted in a press release from the RM, the road re-naming stands as a permanent tribute to one of Corman Park’s longest-serving and influential elected leaders.
Judy served as a councillor for Corman Park from 1994 to 2000 and later as reeve from 2012 to 2024.
“Among her many accomplishments, Harwood successfully advocated for preserving the unity of the municipality at a pivotal moment in its history, helping maintain a strong and effective local government,” the release states.
As noted by Division 4 Councillor David Greenwood, who served as an emcee at the event, Judy not only served with the RM council and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) but also sat on boards for SaskPower, SaskTel, the Saskatchewan Transportation Association, and numerous other groups.
“Judy’s background in hotel and restaurant management has given her many diverse experiences, which she has used to better the lives of those around her,” he said.
Greenwood added that Judy’s service has been previously recognized with the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for Outstanding Service in 2014 and the North Saskatoon Business Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
She has also been named one of Saskatchewan’s 10 most influential women by the Saskatchewan Business Magazine, he noted.
Greenwood said the land surrounding Harwood Road will be an artery for business growth in Corman Park as BizHub and other nearby industrial parks continue to expand.
“A day will come when the land around us will host businesses, and those businesses will literally employ thousands of people who will know that Harwood Road takes them to work and guides them to home,” he said.
It should be noted that both Greenwood and Division 8 Councillor Wendy Trask were the main architects of the road re-naming project.
Greenwood said they had originally looked at re-naming another road near Brandt Agriculture, but adjacent landowners had expressed concerns about adopting a new name.
As to why they pushed this project ahead, Greenwood said, “Judy’s put a lot of effort into being a councillor and a reeve…We just felt it was prudent to recognize her.”
Judy thanked Greenwood and Trask for their “dogged determination” in bringing this project to fruition, as well as her fellow councillors, past and present.
“We certainly had some interesting times. We didn’t always agree, but we got the job done, and tried to make decisions based on what was best for Corman Park and our residents and our ratepayers,” she said.
Finally, she also thanked her family for their unwavering support, particularly her partner Robert who looked after the farm as she was away at various events and conventions.
“Not once did I ever hear Robert complain about my commitment as reeve and councillor in Corman Park for 10 years,” she said.
Former RM of Corman Park reeve Judy Harwood and Division 4 Councillor David Greenwood pull a cloth down from a sign marking the new “Harwood Road” on Friday, October 30. Range Road 3060 has been re-named in recognition of Harwood’s service to the RM, which includes serving as reeve from 2012 to 2024. This unveiling took place at the intersection between the newly-renamed road and Yellowhead Road near the BizHub Industrial Park.
Judy was joined by members of her family, including her children and grandchildren, for the unveiling.