Skip to content

Humphrey named Cranbrook's Woman of the Year

Nominators, CFUW praise master gardener, volunteer, community activist
30739cranbrookdailyjenny_humphrey_web
Jenny Humphrey

A master gardener, former teacher and current  high profile volunteer is this year's Woman of the Year for Cranbrook.

The Cranbrook chapter of the Cranbrook Federation of University Women announced Jenny Humphrey will be presented with this year's honour, the 30th since the CFUW started the tradition in 1984.

"We often know when we have made the best choice from the nominations we receive,when the response from the surprised candidate is a shocked question wondering what special thing they did," said Cathryn Henley, Chair of the Woman of the Year Committee of the CFUW Cranbrook Club, who made the announcement in a press release Sunday, Feb. 24.

Henley said Humphey was chosen by the Woman of the Year 2013 Committee of CFUW "because of the varied volunteer work she has done recently, as well as in the past several years to improve the lives of its citizens, not only visually and emotionally, but as well as in educating the community through such things as the Cranbrook Guardian blog ..."

Humphrey was a teacher for more than 20 years in Cranbrook, while serving as  President of the Cranbrook Cooperative Preschool, and a member of the Kinette Club.

She was President of the Cranbrook Garden Club, initiating Cranbrook's annual Open Garden Day among other ventures.

She served on Cranbrook's Communities in Bloom committee, and was behind many of Cranbrook's public garden initiatives — including spearheading  the restoration of the Fink Fountain in front of Gerick Sports on Highway 3 and designing the Centennial Garden that surrounds it.

She now sits on the Highway 3 Committee of the City Council.

Her interest in sustainable development led to her involvement with the Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook Society  and the The Cranbrook Guardian blog.

Humphrey is currently a volunteer with the Cranbrook and District Arts Council.

One of the letters of support for her nomination came from Tara Gillanders. She wrote, "...Jenny takes her (volunteer) commitments to the next level."

Nominator Gerry Sobie wrote, "In essence, Jenny Humphrey loves Cranbrook and our East Kootenay. All her efforts center on this passion to the benefit of all our community."

Nominator Pat Adams wrote, "Jenny is very community minded and encourages others to be involved in the betterment of this city.

"Although I speak my mind, I speak from the heart, say what I believe and always want to do what I consider is the right thing, the fair and proper thing," Humphrey said. "Doing that doesn't always make me popular in some circles, but I feel in my heart and soul all citizens need to know all the facts about issues that come to Cranbrook.

"Having been honoured in such a way as the CFUW Cranbrook Club choosing to give me this award validates my beliefs and some of the things I have struggled with recently.

"Although I was never on a serious debating team, I honestly think all worthy issues deserve good discussion and all points should be heard," she added.

The CFUW Cranbrook Club is hosting an award ceremony forJenny Humphrey at 4 p.m., Thursday, March 7, at the Manual Training School. During International Women's Week The CFUW Cranbrook Club invites all former "Woman of the Year" recipients to join them.



Barry Coulter

About the Author: Barry Coulter

Barry Coulter had been Editor of the Cranbrook Townsman since 1998, and has been part of all those dynamic changes the newspaper industry has gone through over the past 20 years.
Read more