BIDDEFORD — Since the area now known as Biddeford was first settled in 1631, residents have toiled endlessly and spent their lives striving to make the city a place to be proud of. And now their efforts will be memorialized with the inaugural induction of the Biddeford Cultural Heritage Center Hall of Fame.

The honor recognizes outstanding individuals in the community spanning almost 400 years of time and history.

Biddeford Cultural and Heritage Center officials say eight individuals who have made Biddeford and the world a better place to live and work will be honored with the award and nominees do not need to be residents of the city, but need to have a physical connection to Biddeford and have made a significant impact here.

“This award is a perfect way to put a spotlight on people who have made deep contributions to our community,” said Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant. “It could be the talented mill workers who came here from Turkey and Albania and used their ingenuity to create cloth known around the world for its quality. It could be the Native Americans who were here in the beginning and helped so many Europeans flourish. It could be women who were the matriarchs of their family and helped inspire a new generation of Biddeford.”

The eight inductees will receive a recognition plaque at the La Kermesse Festival in Biddeford this spring and be included on a perpetual plaque that will be displayed at a public venue in the city.

Living Hall of Fame recipients will ride in a special vehicle during the annual La Kermesse parade.

The task of choosing nominees for the Hall of Fame will fall to the Selection Committee of the Biddeford Cultural Heritage Center. Committee members will be made up of Diane Cyr,  president of BCHC; Denis Letellier, president of the Biddeford Historical Society; Alan Casavant, mayor of Biddeford; two members of the BCHC Board, two members of the Biddeford Historical Society; and two members of the general public.

Rules for Hall of Fame nominations specify that nominees must be or have been a Biddeford citizen or a non-resident who made a who made a difference in the quality of life in Biddeford and/or the rest of the world; nominees are required to submit testimonials to attest to their achievement or document the achievement from history; and nominees can nominate themselves for the awards.

Nominees must agree to be photographed and be present at the award ceremony at La Kermesse on June 22. Should they not be available on June 22, they must designate an individual to represent them at the parade on June 22 and the induction ceremony.

Cyr said that the Biddeford Cultural Heritage Center encourages the community to be thinking about individuals now or in the past who would be candidates for this prestigious award.

Nomination forms are available at biddefordculturalandheritagecenter.org, or information about Hall of Fame candidates may be sent by email to biddefordculturalcenter@gmail.com.

The mission of the Biddeford Cultural Heritage Center is to celebrate, preserve, share and teach the culture, heritage, diversity and history of Biddeford, its people and surrounding communities. The mission of the organization is to instill pride in the city of Biddeford and its people by preserving, sharing and teaching its stories, culture, history and artifacts. 

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com.

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