The last hurdle has been cleared to bring Gordie Howe’s ashes to Saskatoon.
The province has approved the city’s application to have the area around his statue at Sasktel Centre designated a cemetery.
Some of the cremated remains of Gordie Howe and his wife, Colleen, will be interred in the base of his statue. They will be encased in a special concrete vessel with a commemorative plaque on top to protect them.
The move comes at the request of the Howe family in collaboration with the Saskatoon Blades.
The hockey club’s president, Steve Hogle, said there will be private ceremony for the family followed by other events to honour Mr. Hockey during the Blades home opener on Sept. 25.
“We’re going to have a tail gate party, then we’re going to have a special pregame ceremony,” Hogle told CKOM News on Aug. 18.
“We can all thank them for all that their father did for so many people, including the city.”
SaskTel Centre will cover the costs of the project up to a maximum of $6,000, and the Saskatoon Blades will cover any costs over and above that amount.
The hockey legend died in June at the age of 88.