Former Prince Albert Mayor Borrowman-Clark celebrates 90th birthday

A former three-term City Councillor for Ward 2 and short-term Mayor of Prince Albert celebrated a milestone birthday on Saturday.

Iris Borrowman-Clark (born Iris Light) celebrated her 90th Birthday with a come-and go celebration at Cornerstone Free Methodist Church.

Borrowman-Clark said having the come-and-go celebration at a church was important, since it’s been such a big part of her life.

“I think my faith in God. That’s my ground,” Borrowman-Clark said when asked what she attributed to her long life.

Borrowman-Clark has lived in Prince Albert for 70 years. She was born in the village of Glenavon east of Regina, but moved with her family to the Meadow Lake area when she was one.

“I grew up there, took all my schooling in Champion School, and then went into Meadow Lake and went to Carpenter High School from there up to Grade 11. I married out of Grade 11 and became a stepmother to four sons and then my education started,” Borrowman-Clark said.

She explained that she ended up in Prince Albert because that’s where her first husband was from.

“We moved back here after we were married,” she explained. “Actually we had our second son by the time we moved back here.”

Borrowman-Clark has five biological children, seven step-children and has had around 50 foster children.

She explained that she became a foster parent because there was a need for them in the 1960s and she saw that need and wanted to help. There were a few of her foster children in attendance.

“There was a need at that time, and so we applied and were accepted,” Borrowman-Clark said.

“Some of them were babies that were adopted. I think there was three out of the ones I had that were adopted as babies, and then one was three years old when she came. She stayed until she was married and left home. Other ones stayed who were there until such time as they left home as well,” Borrowman-Clark said.

Besides her work as a foster parent, Borrowman-Clark was heavily involved in the political arena.

She was a three-term Prince Albert city councillor, and served as mayor for 10 months after Mayor Gordon Kirkby resigned in Dec. 1993. She served in that role until the next election.

She officially ran for mayor in the October 1994 election after serving her interim term, but lost to Don Cody.

Borrowman-Clark originally decided to run in civic politics at the suggestion of a co-worker.

“I thought it was the most ridiculous thought that ever crossed (my mind),” she said. “I didn’t even realize it was in the election year. I had no interest in politics whatsoever. But it was the first year of the ward system snd I lived in Nordale at that time, and I worked at the community clinic, so I ran in Ward 2.

She lost the seat to Don Wickens in the initial count in November 1985.

“I didn’t get my term or my seat on council for six months. I asked for a recount. Yes, the recount because of the counting controversy in Nordale. It ended up I won by way more than

I’d initially lost by. But they had taken my opponent’s results and we reversed them,” Borrowman-Clark said.

The law was changed after her recount controversy that allowed her to take her seat.

As with everything in her life, Borrowman-Clark said her faith guided her to choose to run for City Council.

“I had no interest in it at all, but it was again through prayer and through revelation that came to me that I was supposed to run, which I didn’t want to do, but I did,” she said.

Borrowman-Clark found her time in civic politics to be very educational.

“It was an interesting and very, very educational. I just enjoyed my time on council. I served on several or many boards and committees and I learned so many things that I never have had any idea about before that,” she said.

Borrowman-Clark was appointed Mayor after former Mayor Gordon Kirkby was elected as a Liberal in the 1993 Election in October, 1993.

“There would have been an election that fall. So rather than call a by-election for 10 months, I was just appointed through council,” Borrowman-Clark said.

She explained that she ran for Mayor, but regretted that decision.

“I ran for mayor, which I shouldn’t have done,” she said.

Former Mayor Greg Dionne was in attendance as the two have become friends. Former Ward 1 Coun. Charlene Miller also came to wish Borrowman the best on her 90th birthday. She served as Alderman and City Councillor (the title was changed in Jan. 1992 from June, 1986 until Dec. 31, 1993 and as Mayor of Prince Albert from Jan. 1, 1994 until Oct. 31, 1994.

There was a room full of people in the church to wish her a happy birthday which made Borrowman-Clark happy.

“I think it’s wonderful,” she said. “Amazing. There were several who texted me that they weren’t able to come, and my niece and nephew are here from Hudson Bay and my one foster daughter from Edmonton.”

After she cut her cake Prince Albert Mayor Bill Powalinsky presented her with recognition from the City of Prince Albert and a portrait from her time on City Council.

“I don’t like surprises, so they did let me in on a few things,” she said. “I knew he was coming, but yes, I certainly didn’t expect that. But that is a great tribute to be included in the present council.”

In his tribute Powalinsky mentioned that Borrowman-Clark was an advocate for upkeep of facilities and that mantra lives on in the current City Council.

On the table at her party was a book her son made of several of the events and happenings that she was involved with as councillor and Mayor.

“Some of them I remember, so much I forgot,” she said. “A lot of water has gone under the bridge in that length of time.”

She said that her best memories of her 90 years was all of the people she had met and situations she had been in.

She also said she loves and appreciates her family.

She has also been involved in a number of businesses in her life.

“My first husband was into motorcycles and bicycle repair. Then we had fire extinguishers. We started Midwest Security and Investigation. It was the first security company other than the Commissionaires in the city. We got out of it just at the time drugs were coming in,” she explained.

“I said, with alcohol, you can sort of watch and predict the moods or the behaviours, but with drugs, it’s too erratic, so I was glad we got out when we did. I think that was the last company. That’s when my husband passed away.”

She continued to work at the community clinic for 20 years until she retired in 1994.

“I had remarried by that time and we bought a little farm. My husband (Ken Clark), he drove a logging truck. I travelled with him some and then we bought a small acreage out of town and developed that until he passed away,” she said.

In 2012, Borrowman-Clark and Ken Clark were named King and Queen of the Prince Albert Winter Festival.

She said that there are two things that are most important to her.

“I think when I think of myself, it’s been family and church,” she said. “My church family has been a very, very integral part of my family.”

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