St. Albert’s newest street is an empty field but it’s still a meaningful spot for one local family.
The city officially dedicated Lacroix Close on Monday afternoon. It was named in honour of the Lacroix family, and particularly its patriarch Don Lacroix, founder of Pro-Western Plastics on Riel Drive.
“It is extremely fitting to recognize a man and a family that is part of our history of commerce and a symbol of drive, determination and longevity in our community,” said Mayor Nolan Crouse.
Don Lacroix founded Pro-Western Plastics in 1969 after he and his father moved the family west from New Brunswick, where they had been in the pulp and paper business. As company president, Don earned the company a solid reputation in its industry and grew it into one of St. Albert's largest employers, at more than 200 employees.
His wife Gladys and five children were on hand to accept the official street sign from the city.
“It’s a very great honour to my late husband. I think he would be very pleased and happy,” said Gladys, who’s widely known around St. Albert as Babe.
Don died on New Year’s Day in 2008 at age 75 after an eight-month battle with kidney cancer. Last year his son-in-law RĂ©al Chamberland, a vice-president with Pro-Western Plastics, approached the city suggesting a street be named after Don, who was a generous but low-key supporter of many local charities.
“He was just such a generous person and a great employer to the St. Albert community,” Chamberland said. “I thought that he should be honoured for what he had done.”
The community at large and the business community appreciates the active role the Lacroix family has taken in bettering St. Albert, said chamber of commerce chair Charlene Zoltenko.
“It’s just great to see a business that has thrived and stayed in St. Albert all these years,” she said.
The family-owned business is now headed by eldest son Paul.
“Dad took great pride in supporting the community stuff. That’s what he wanted to be remembered for along with his business interests,” Paul said.
Lacroix Close, when it’s built, will be a short residential street accessed from Lacombe Drive. The street naming is the third time a Lacroix has been bestowed with such an honour, Paul said.
Don’s uncle was a prominent businessman in Quebec and had a street named for him in the small city of Saint-Georges, Paul said. Don’s father had a street named for him in the town of Grand Bay-Westfield, N.B., a suburb of Saint John.
“My dad was a low-key guy,” Paul said, “but honestly, I think he’d be happy about this.
