Marge Dunbar moved to Parksville in 1945, the year Parksville was incorporated as a city.
In May of 2019, Dunbar became aware the city would celebrate its 75th birthday in 2020. Mayor Ed Mayne was contacted about the possibility of a street being named for her as part of the city’s celebrations.
Dunbar lived in Parksville for the past 75 years, raising her family here. She passed away on Feb. 4, 2020, at the age of 100.
The city reached out to Insight Holdings Ltd., the company developing the property on Despard Avenue, with the request to name one of the new streets in honour of Dunbar. It received a favourable response.
Dunbar Way was unveiled as Parksville’s newest street on June 19, the city’s 75th birthday.
“We are pleased to be able to honour the late Mrs. Marge Dunbar with the naming of Dunbar Way in Parksville,” said Mayne. “I can only imagine the many changes and significant growth that Mrs. Dunbar witnessed during her 75 years living in Parksville.”
Attending on behalf of the Dunbar family were son Ian, daughter-in-law Margie and grandson Jeff Dunbar, along with Brian Henning representing Insight Holdings.
Ian and Margie Dunbar moved back to the Island from the Lower Mainland approximately 20 years ago and plan to stay in Parksville.
— NEWS Staff, submitted