SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A month before Peggy Radcliffe returned to Yellowknife for its 75th anniversary, she contacted the city about putting up a bench in memory of her son who died of cancer on the rocks where he and his siblings used to play.

Peggy Radcliffe's son Michael died of throat cancer five years ago. Here, Radcliffe sits on a bench that the city helped her install on the rocks across from her old house on 54 Street, in loving memory of her son. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

"There's a rocky outcrop there. It's what we used to call the DOT rocks," said Radcliffe, explaining when they were living by the area on 54 Street, all the Department of Transportation employees were living on the other side of the rocks, which sparked the nickname.

"It's where the kids used to play all the time, and this is where we had the bench put facing the house," she continued.

"It was a fun place for the kids ­ they used to play cowboys and Indians, and treasure hunts, you name it. Oh, they had a lot of fun back then. If only I could turn time back, eh?"

The Radcliffes lived in Yellowknife from 1957 until some of them moved back to the United Kingdom in 1986. Her son David Radcliffe still resides in Yellowknife.

Her son, Michael died on June 22, 2004, while he was living in the United Kingdom, after a nine-month-long battle with throat cancer.

"Oh it was dreadful, for him especially," said Radcliffe, tears welling up and her voice cracking with emotion. "He was 36. In his prime."

"I'm so happy that we could do this, you know, for him."

Radcliffe said she wanted to thank the city for helping her make the bench a reality.

She got in touch with the city only one-and-a half-months before she arrived here on June 19, and the bench, which the Radcliffes paid for, was up before she got here.

"I can't explain how super good they've been. Very, very helpful. They got it finished before I got here so I could see it in all it's glory," said Radcliffe. "I really, really appreciate what they've done, you know."

She cited a few specific people she wanted to thank ­ Dave Hurley at city hall, and Mike Mitchell and Wendy Lahey at the NWT Recreation and Parks Association.

Dave Hurley said it was something he was happy to help with.

"Basically what happened is that she talked to somebody in the NWT Recreation and Parks Association, and they sent me an e-mail asking if we could help," said Hurley, who is manager of facilities with community services at the city.

"I wanted to make sure that when she arrived that it was done and that she could see it, enjoy it, sit on the bench and whatever she needed to do." "She paid for the bench and the plaque and we did everything for her in lieu of her being here."

Radcliffe certainly appreciated the help.

"I feel it should be publicly known how good people can be," said Radcliffe.