County council and staff said farewell to Wellington Place Administrator Bonnie Callen on April 28, the day before her retirement.
Chief Administrative Officer Scott Wilson offered some serious and then humourous comments about Callen and her work. First, he noted she usually presents a “cultural moment,” of a piece of art from the county museum, but since it was her penultimate workday, “She said, ‘To hell with it’.”
He presented Callen a picture of Queen Elizabeth, with Callen’s face replacing Her Majesty.
Wilson noted Callen has been administrator of Wellington Place for 16 years, and spent her entire working career employed by the county.
He noted the county won a national award for its new archives building, and she will be remembered for her work to plan that project.
He called her “demure, dedicated, reserved, and, above all, professional. I’m going to miss her and her quiet ways.”
Museum Curator Susan Dunlop told Callen “We are going to miss you. We appreciated your professionalism, and admired your sense of humour and your poise.”
Callen said of her retirement. “I’ve been thinking about it for weeks and months and years. It’s hard to believe I’ve been walking out that door for 32 years.”
She was hired in 1979.
Callen said that many times over the years she reflected on the opportunity the county gave to her “to pursue a career in heritage.”
She said that included an education that helped her career. She remembered particularly being the person who helped write the county policy on the Freedom of Information act when it became law, and also being chairman for the International Plowing Match of 1999-2000.
“I hope I showed responsible stewardship to the grand old building on the hill,” Callen said of the county museum.
Callen was presented a number of gifts. Earlier in the day, she had also been honoured when the county held a High Tea in her honour instead of the regular lunch.
The following day, Callen was saluted again at a tea at the county museum and archives for her final day on the job.
County councillors and staff accompanied Callen to a limousine waiting outside the council chambers to take Callen and her family home.
