Terry and Donna Howe: celebrating two lifetimes of building community

Terry and Donna Howe of Alliance are being recognized by the Battle River Community Foundation as “community builders,” people who dedicate their time and energy to helping local communities thrive.

The couple will be the guests of honour at a tribute evening taking place in Alliance on May 29.

All proceeds from the dinner will be used to start the Terry and Donna Howe fund, which will support projects in the Alliance and Castor area.

Both Terry and Donna Howe grew up in families which taught them the value of being involved with the communities where you live and work.

“My parents did exactly that,” says Terry, who was born and raised in Castor, where he still lives.

“They thought it was important to be active and support the town. I guess you could say that I learned it from them.”

Donna, who was raised in Halkirk and went to school in Castor, says she and Terry, her husband of 39 years, are pleased to follow in the footsteps of their families.

“We live here too,” she says, “and we want to help.”

Terry and Donna, both of whom are celebrating their 60th birthday this spring, have truly spent their adult lifetimes giving back to their local communities.

Terry recently retired after 35 years as Manager of the Alliance Seed Plant and Donna has been a lab and x-ray tech at Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital in Castor since 1977.

Terry helped the Seed Plant grow from a 200,000 bushel operation to a thriving business processing an average of 800,000 bushels a year.

He was also instrumental in the development of a business hub around the plant which includes the sale of feed and vet supplies.

“People can come into town and make one stop to get everything they need,” he says.

Terry played a role in supporting the Battle River Railway.

He also served 10 years on the provincial seed plant board, and was President of the Managers’ Association for three years.
Donna has served on a wide range of committees through the Castor hospital as well.

In addition to their busy work lives and having a farm to run, the couple raised three daughters, and at different times also welcomed exchange student “daughters” to their family, who were of Japanese, Brazilian, and Danish descent.

Now they are delighted to have expanded the family to include two granddaughters.

“A lot of what we were involved with over the years was because of our kids,” says Donna.

“Terry was a 4-H leader and I was active in Sunday School and helped manage the girls’ hockey and baseball teams.

“Now that the girls are grown we’ve slowed down a bit, but we still do like to help.”

That “help” has included Terry serving on the fundraising committee for construction of a new community hall in Castor, and both partners being active members of the Alliance Legion.

Terry is an active curler. Donna also volunteers with the MS Bike Tour to raise funds in support of a cure for the disease she has lived with since 2003.

The couple is a bit overwhelmed at the idea of being put in the spotlight. “I hope people show up,” Donna laughs.
They are very pleased, however, to be able to raise dollars to support projects in the area where they live.

“It’s good to have this community,” Terry explains.

“I believe that you have to support home or home won’t be there.

“It’s great to support a group that will help the donations grow and give the money back to local projects.”

Donna adds that one of the things that made them agree to be part of this Battle River Community Foundation event and start a fund to benefit the local area is that they will actually be able to see the results.

“We always donate, but when you send your money far away you may never get to see the good that it does.

“With this, it’s more personal – we will know that it’s benefitting our own community.

“And it will be there forever, so many generations could benefit.”

Tickets for the Community Builders Tribute Night honouring the Howes are on sale now.

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