2007 Inductees

Michael Jorgensen (Arts)

Michael Jorgensen is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker with a passion for storytelling.

In 1997, Michael founded Myth Merchant Films. Myth Merchant’s first production, Battle of the X-Planes, in 2003, was honoured with an Emmy Award for best Feature Length Documentary. Battle of the X-Planes is the story of the competition between Boeing and Lockheed in the development of the ultimate high-tech fighter. It tells a saga of designers and pilots pushing the envelope against high stakes and of the attempt by the Pentagon to change its way of doing business. The program not only gained the distinction of being the highest-rated show in NOVA’s thirty-year history, but also marked the first and only time that the U. S. Department of National Defense allowed a filmmaker an inside look into a major defense competition. This being Myth Merchant’s first production makes the whole feat quite overwhelming.

In 2004, Michael wrote, produced, directed and was the cinematographer for the HDTV production, Lost Nuke, for the Discovery Channel. Lost Nuke reveals the untold story about the Americans who accidentally crashed a plane on the B.C. coast in the early 1950s with a nuclear weapon aboard. This film was awarded Best Documentary from the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, as well as eight ‘Rosies’, the award of the Alberta Motion Picture Industry.

Over the past 20 years, Michael has earned over eighty national and international awards for writing, producing, directing and cinematography, including Best International Feature from CNN. He has also received honours from the Canadian Association of Journalists, the New York Film Festival and the Canadian Society of Cinematographers.

Michael recently acted as the producer for the six-hour series, Mars Rising. Set to air on the Discovery Channel in the fall of 2008, the $6 million production chronicles the scientific and technical efforts to launch the first human mission to the Red Planet. Currently Michael is in production on two Discovery Channel specials: Dinosaur Resurrection which follows the scientific investigation into the world’s only dinosaur cadaver and Arctic Exhumation, a forensic investigation into the identity of the Mad Trapper.

We have been truly blessed to have such a talented individual from our community accomplish such remarkable goals and we are very proud to have him recognized in the industry as “Spruce Grove’s filmmaker”. We look forward to many more great productions from Michael Jorgensen.

Stuart Barnes (Athletics)

Stuart Barnes was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1970 right here in Spruce Grove. His career in hockey began at the age of 12, when, showing early promise, he was chosen by the Canadian National Hockey Association to take part in a summer camp at the University of Alberta.

In his junior career, Stu was a major scoring sensation with the Western Hockey League's New Westminster Bruins and Tri-City Americans, winning the Jim Piggot Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year in 1987-88 and the WHL Player of the Year in 1988-89. In the 1989 NHL entry draft, Stu was drafted 4th overall by the Winnipeg Jets. In December 1990, he played for the Canadian National Junior Hockey team, where he and his teammates won a gold medal for Canada in Helsinki, Finland.

In 1993, the Winnipeg Jets traded Stu to the Florida Panthers, where he went to the Stanley Cup Finals, only to lose to the Colorado Avalanche. Then in 1996, the Panthers traded Stu to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 1999, he was traded again to the Buffalo Sabres. In Buffalo, he went to the finals again, this time against the Dallas Stars, only to lose on a triple-overtime goal. He served as the captain for the Sabres before being traded to Dallas in 2002-03 where he helped the team win a division title.

In his first game for Dallas, Barnes had to be reassured that the fans were not booing him because of his status as a former Buffalo Sabre. They were, in fact, yelling "Stu" whenever he touched the puck.

Here are some of Stu’s milestones. He won the Prince of Wales Trophy in 1996 in the Eastern Conference final with the Florida Panthers. He repeated this feat in 1998 with the Buffalo Sabres. In the 1997-98 season, he scored 30 goals, had 35 assists and earned 65 points, a career high. In 2001, Stuart was named the assistant captain of the Sabres, and helped lead the team to win more games than ever in a single season. That same season he won the Punch Imlach Award for his dedication and leadership. He won the same award the next year when he was named captain of the Sabres. He played in his 1,000th NHL game in 2005-06 with the Dallas Stars, his fifth NHL team. Only 212 players have ever reached that goal. Currently playing centre for the Dallas Stars, Stu continues to be a commanding force on the ice.

Stuart Barnes has been and continues to be, an outstanding ambassador for Spruce Grove. His contributions to the game of hockey extend further than just our city limits. Stu’s integrity, dedication and love for the game are an inspiration to our community. He is a role model of what hard work and determination can accomplish.

Kelly Perlette (Athletics)

Kelly started boxing at the early age of 11. He trained initially at the Spruce Grove Elks Club, the first service club in Spruce Grove, under the direction of Bob and Jim Titley. When Kelly was 14, he trained in Edmonton under Paul Hortie, who was a big influence and a great trainer for the young boxer. Kelly’s career was outstanding. He was Alberta Provincial champion nine times and Canadian National champion five times.

In 1977, he competed internationally in Ireland and in 1978, Kelly was one of only two western Canadians on Canada’s Commonwealth Games boxing team; and the only Albertan. Despite a badly-cut eye, a cut forehead, and a suspected broken nose, the light-middleweight defeated three men in four days to win the gold medal for Canada -- the first Canadian boxer in sixteen years to win gold.

In his honour, Mayor George Cuff and the Town Council declared August 11, 1978, “Kelly Perlette Day” in Spruce Grove.

In 1979, Kelly went on to win the bronze medal while competing in Greece at the Acropolis Cup. He was also selected to the 1980 Olympic Team, which unfortunately boycotted the Moscow Olympic Games.

Winning numerous Golden Gloves in Alberta, British Columbia, and in the United States, Kelly has won widespread admiration and respect for his skill, determination, and sportsmanship. He currently resides in Edmonton with his wife, Elaine, and their three children Craig, Tim and Matthew.