Councillor Clyde Blackburn at the 2019 Bear Creek Folk Festival (Photo: Bear Creek Folk Festival)

By Shaun Penner

First diagnosed in 2019

City Councillor Clyde Blackburn reveals leukemia has returned

Feb 3, 2021 | 9:47 AM

Grande Prairie City Councillor Clyde Blackburn says he is once again dealing with leukemia, a diagnosis he first received in early 2019.

Blackburn made the announcement on his personal Facebook page Tuesday afternoon. He says he received the difficult news early last week.

“(It) was certainly a bit of a stunner for me and my family, but I understand what it’s all about.”

He was first diagnosed with the cancer in early 2019 and took a leave of absence from his duties on City Council while he received treatment. He returned to Council full-time in February of 2020, with his cancer in remission.

Blackburn says he will be receiving minor chemotherapy treatment here in Grande Prairie, and will not be receiving a stem cell transplant this time around.

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“The determination was that it’s not likely a second transplant would work, and in the meantime it would be more toxic to me than worthwhile,” said Blackburn.

Blackburn says he will be carrying forward with his regular duties on City Council and the various boards he is involved with, he says, for as long and as much as he can.

“It’s challenging and rewarding for me. It keeps me busy, it gives me things to do on a daily basis.”

Blackburn thanks everyone in the community and on council for the outpouring of support he has received throughout this process.

He adds he is grateful to have been able to make so many great connections with the community and its residents over the years, whether through his work on City Council, the Street Performers Festival or his work at ATCO Electric.

“It’s heartwarming to know that I’ve touched people in ways that I had no idea, and it’s also a wonderful reminder of the way those people have touched me.”

Blackburn is in his first term on City Council, being elected in 2017. He adds with his outlook and diagnosis, he will not be running for re-election in the October municipal election.