As others have across the country, members of city council took time to remember and pay tribute to the late artist Allen Sapp.
Sapp died Dec. 29 and his funeral was held Jan. 1 at Red Pheasant First Nation. Sapp was world-renowned for his artistic depictions of life on the reserve.
At council Monday, Councillor Ray Fox spoke of Sapp and noted the loss will be felt by the Allen Sapp Gallery and the community.
“Some time ago I think we had the opportunity to discuss with Leisure Services about this very event, about the possibility that this was going to happen,” said Fox.
“It happened a little too fast for us, and I suppose it happened way too fast for the family and the friends and the fans of Allen Sapp.”
Fox noted city officials from Leisure Services as well as Mayor Ian Hamilton had been at the wake and the funeral for Sapp, and Fox had participated in the eulogy along with Leah Garven, director of galleries. Fox added that it is “hard to measure” the good and the benefit from Sapp.
It was “hard to find another human being that has actually walked that kind of a path,” said Fox.
“He’s walked all of the different ropes and the paths that people should walk in the manner that you’re supposed to walk … whether it was kindness, whether it was benevolence, anything at all that he has walked those ropes straight and narrow.”
He adds that only now are people starting to realize “what role he played in bringing forth the artists and all of the other things he has done, not only in North Battleford but Canada-wide and of course also in the world.”
Fox summed up by describing Sapp’s death as “an incredible loss” but also “an incredible legacy.”
