Knowledge park lane named after Crowther (News)

By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

A new street in the Greater Fredericton Knowledge Park has been named after Tom Crowther, the late publisher of The Daily Gleaner newspaper.

The dedication of Crowther Lane was made at the official opening ceremony of two new buildings in the knowledge park Wednesday and was attended by several members of the Crowther family.

Crowther was a strong proponent of the knowledge park, said Coun. Dan Keenan.

"We're going to honour a man who exemplifies the ideals of community development and commitment to community," he said.

The ceremony included a large photograph of Crowther on the telephone, symbolic of his influence in the community both as an individual who drove issues and who frequently provided counsel and advice.

He served on the board of many community organizations including, Theatre New Brunswick, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the Chalmers hospital, the Fredericton chamber of commerce, the University of New Brunswick, junior achievement and the knowledge park, said Keenan.

The councillor said former Fredericton mayor and former MLA and friend of Crowther J.W. (Bud) Bird described the newspaper publisher as a champion who promoted worthy causes and fought for the community,

"I think everyone would agreed that defines Tom well," he said.

Rod Crowther, Tom's son, received a plaque from city and said his father would be pleased with the success of the knowledge park.

"Those of you who know him know that all of the edits he wrote were hand written," he said.

"He had a computer but he never used it.

"But he was a great believer in technology."

When his father oversaw the construction of The Daily Gleaner building in the early 1980s he insisted it be filled with the most up-to-date technology, said Crowther.

"The knowledge park is a testament of what we can achieve when we all work together," he said.

"My father always spoke highly of what (you) are trying to do here."

Crowther Lane leads to the two new buildings in the knowledge park.