City man honoured posthumously as a ‘Mighty Neighbour’

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on August 22, 2024.

Submitted photo - Neil Talbot, seen here with his 'best friend' Dexter strapped to his chest in a baby carrier, has been recognized posthumously as a "Mighty Neighbour."

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

He only knew him for a couple of years but Peter Burns feels his late neighbour Neil Talbot deserved to be recognized posthumously as a “Mighty Neighbour.”

Burns and Talbot’s son Kevin talked at City Hall on Wednesday morning after Burns was honoured by the City’s “Mighty Neighbours: Summer Edition” program.

“I feel it’s my privilege to be able acknowledge one of the finest gentlemen I’ve ever met in my life. Neil was tireless in his efforts to help people and he exemplified that consistently by being there when he was needed and being the go-to person in our community if there was a fence to be mended, somebody to be consoled because there was a loss in the family, Neil was there. I have never met a more finer gentleman in my life,” said Burns.

Burns read about the initiative in The Herald and Talbot’s name jumped right to his mind, he said.

“Neil came from a background and a generation where people’s actions, words and deeds meant something. And he exemplified that to a T. So as soon as I read about it, I was drawn to nominate him,” said Burns.

Burns only knew Talbot – who died in 2022 at the age of 75 – for about two years and in that time “I made a friend in my senior years. I took to him immediately. We became very close very quickly and it was a tragedy to lose him but I was so happy I got to meet him.”

When Burns had problems with his sprinkler system, Talbot taught him how to do repairs, as an example of his helpfulness.

He volunteered for the Lethbridge and District Humane Society and the community at large “but above that, it was the personal touches that Neil provided to our community that made him the leader in our community. And that hole is still there,” added Burns.

Talbot’s son Kevin, a sergeant with the Economic Crimes unit of the Lethbridge Police Service, said his dad taught his family to try to help people as much as they possibly can.

“What he did for the community he also did for his family,” said Talbot.

“He has always been there for me and the rest of my family. This is just the icing on the cake,” he added.

Talbot said to Neil volunteer work with the Humane Society was like a second career for him. And volunteering was important to him.

“He put his heart and soul into that organization,” primarily building things for the society and the animals in its care.

“He would spend all day there with another gentleman that he worked with there and he would often find things to donate to them. He’s a true example of what a human being should be like,” said Talbot of his dad who would also organize and do the cooking for backyard neighbourhood meals.