—SCC will pay tribute to its designer by planting an oak tree in downtown river valley

In recognition of the life and work of former Edmontonian and convention centre architect B. James (Jim) Wensley, the Shaw Conference Centre (SCC) will have a Burr Oak tree planted in his honour. The Burr Oak symbolises strength, and at maturity, stands over 20 metres tall and 18 metres wide. Wensley’s tree and its accompanying plaque will be located in Louise McKinney Riverfront Park in Edmonton’s downtown river valley.

"Mr. Wensley designed the original convention centre over 25 years ago and it truly was an inspired concept to link downtown to the river valley,” says SCC’s Assistant General Manager Cliff Higuchi. “We hope the oak tree planted in his honour, just a stone’s throw from the convention centre, is something he would have appreciated.”

Jim Wensley graduated from the University of Alberta in 1952 with a degree in Civil Engineering, and from the University of British Columbia in 1956 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. He started his career in Vancouver in 1958 and four years later returned to Edmonton with his family to start a very successful architectural business. Along with the Shaw Conference Centre, Wensley’s Edmonton accomplishments include Scotia Place, Oxford Towers, the original Southgate Centre and Mayfair Golf and Country Club, to name a few.

After calling Edmonton home for nearly 30 years he returned to Vancouver in 1989 and opened B. James Wensley Architecture. Following a brief battle with cancer, Jim Wensley died peacefully in a Vancouver hospital on October 15, 2009 at the age of 79. His life and work in Edmonton will be celebrated at a memorial service at the Shaw Conference Centre on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 at 3 p.m.

Media Contact:
Cathy Ennis
Communications Manager, External Relations
Edmonton Economic Development Corp (EEDC)
Phone: 780.917.7894
Email: Cennis@edmonton.com

The Shaw Conference Centre is one of Canada’s premier meeting, entertainment, and convention venues and is managed by Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC). For more information, visit www.edmonton.com. Learn more about Edmonton through the stories of people who've experienced it at
http://www.edmontonstories.ca/.