The first city manager in charge of Coquitlam's parks and recreation facilities and activities will be a "free man" next week.
On Monday, council will bestow the Freedom of the City honour on Don Cunnings for his efforts to make the municipality green and its citizens active.
A Pitt Meadows resident, Cunnings retired in 1993 but he continues to consult for the city. The former gym coach and nationally ranked gymnast was inducted into the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and, last year, he earned the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal from B.C. Premier Christy Clark. He was part of the first-ever UBC School of Physical Education graduation class and is also a charter member and co-founder of Coquitlam Search and Rescue.
Cunnings will be the 11th recipient of the Freedom of the City award, joining the ranks of Fern Bouvier, Rev. John Davies, Dorothy Fleming, Larry Fleming, Rene Gamache, Dr. J. Crosby Johnston, Jean Lambert, Bob McNary, Eunice Parker and Leonore Peyton. The distinction is largely ceremonial but does allow recipients to park for free anywhere in the city.
