Friends and family of the late Harry-Jae Elder praised the dreams and dedication of the Fillmore-area farmer who helped make the T.C. Douglas Centre a reality in Weyburn during a Sunday afternoon ceremony.

An unveiling of a painting of Elder by artist Richard Widdifield was the highlight of the ceremony.

Widdifield, now based in Saskatoon, was raised in Creelman and knew Harry-Jae personally.

Widdifield said Harry-Jae personified true greatness in his efforts to make the world a better place for everyone, which inspired the painting.

"It was an honour and privilege to do this picture, but it was even greater honour and privilege to know Harry-Jae Elder," he said.

The original painting will hang in the T.C. Douglas Centre, and features several scenes from his life, as a businessman, farmer and 4-H leader, along with scenes from his farm and of the T.C. Douglas Centre. Prints of the picture were given to Harry-Jae's widow, Donnett, and to all the members of the Elder family in front of a packed house in the T.C. Douglas Centre.

Prior to the picture's unveiling, a number of people paid tribute to Elder's hard work and dedication to many causes, including the spearheading, restoration and renovation of the former Calvary Baptist Church to a centre for the performing arts that also houses memorabilia of the church's most famous preacher-turned-premier and MP, Tommy Douglas. Work began on the project in 1983, and it officially opened in October of 1991.

"He was a man of integrity, and whatever he took on he did his best," commented Deputy Mayor Marlene Nedelcov in bringing greetings from the city.

"Harry-Jae had the combination; he had the dreams and he also had the dedication to see those dreams become a reality," added MLA Judy Bradley, saying Harry-Jae characterized "Saskatchewan values" in his life.

Mayvis Goranson, who served on the founding committee for the T.C. Douglas Centre with Elder, said Harry-Jae was a man with many resources and connections throughout the community, province and country.

"Harry-Jae was very early inspired by the life of Tommy Douglas," said Goranson, which led to his desire to pay tribute to this statesman by saving the church Douglas had once preached in.

"Of all his accomplishments he said this place, the restoration of this facility, brought him the most satisfaction and enjoyment. We know without his leadership there's no doubt this would not have become a reality," said Goranson.

She noted there were many challenges to getting the old church moved to Signal Hill and restored, including hordes of mice, but Harry-Jae met all of challenges with a smile and helped make the project a fun one to work on.

The ceremony came one week after Elder's posthumous induction into Saskatchewan's Agricultural Hall of Fame; earlier this year he was also inducted into the province's 4-H Hall of Fame.