With the passing of Mrs. Elke Blodgett, St. Albert has lost a person whose contributions as an artist and as an environmentalist were enormous. She was simply known as “Elke” – that was all you needed to know.
I don’t know all the honours she ever received but surely she deserved them all. Her pottery was famous, and she did her hands considerable damage during the process of pot-making.
Her environmental activities were controversial in some quarters but I have to believe that she held the respect of even those who disagreed with her views. She certainly had respect from those who were in agreement. As a friend, she was dedicated and resourceful. Just days before, she dropped off a National Geographic magazine about birds.
She was a founding member of the Big Lake Environment Support Society (BLESS). When BLESS was awarded the Emerald Award, she was in attendance.
RIP, Elke, and we can be certain the environment in Heaven will be spruced up in the near future.
Bob Lane, St. Albert
