Even after all the accolades she’s received in her successful career, Michelle Wright admitted this was a new one.
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Chatham-Kent displayed a snowplow named in the country star’s honor – ‘Snow Wright’ – as the Merlin native was in town Friday.
She admitted being a bit surprised when she first heard the news.
“I have never been named after a snowplow and that’s just fantastic,” Wright said, with the plow parked outside the Kent Club. “Snow Wright. You’ve got to use that, when your last name is Wright.”
Chatham-Kent is no stranger to naming plows, with the public also submitting various ideas in recent years, including Anita Shovel, Gordie Plow and Blizzard of Oz.
Flurrie Jenkins, a nod to hall of fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins, is another plow named after a local celebrity.
Winmar Property Restoration Services sponsored the initiative.
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Mayor Darrin Canniff, who said the other name suggestion was ‘Wright on Time,’ called it fitting to honor the singer in a fun way for her contributions over the years.
“She serves as an inspiration for so many youth,” he said. “(They say) ‘I can be from a small town and be really big.’ Michelle’s a great example of that.”
The plow will be based in the public works area of Kent Centre, located just west of Merlin.
For Wright, being back in Chatham-Kent gives her a warm feeling, and she’s enjoying the chance to catch up with family and friends.
“You go away for a while and you come back. There’s nothing like coming home and I’m not just saying that,” she said.
The snowplow wasn’t the only tribute to the singer announced Friday.
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Afterwards, local artist Lucy Thrift was on hand to unveil a portrait of Wright, done in pencil and gel pen, in the atrium at the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre.
The singer embraced the artist and thanked her, with the gathering in attendance applauding.
“I can write a song, but I can’t even draw a stick figure,” she joked. “This young lady’s talent is remarkable.”
Thrift, a fan of Wright’s music, said she put more than 100 hours of work into the piece, noting she “gave a lot to it.”
In addition to this portrait, the Grade 12 Chatham-Kent Secondary student has illustrated local legends such as Fergie Jenkins and Bill Atkinson.
It was a busy day for Wright, who also served as marshal for Friday night’s Santa Claus parade in downtown Chatham, where she was driven around in a classic car while speaking to the crowds.
“I think it’s my first time being in the Santa Claus parade,” she said. “So, that’s really fun.”
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