2024 Biddeford Hall of Fame
Tamsyn (Ackerman) Bodwell Visionary, Artist, Downtown Pioneer
When people discuss the art culture of Biddeford, the name TammyAckerman is always part of the conversation. Arriving in the community in 2004, she was “awed by the mills” and their historical significance. Tammy envisioned a place where culture and the arts could be celebrated and embraced. She created the non-profit, Engine, an arts and cultural center, that today offers programs and events that engage people to converse, laugh, and share their experiences of simply being human.
Importantly, Engine became a marketing tool, branding Biddeford as an exciting place for visitors and entrepreneurs. Through her travels, Tammy had learned that “arts and culture helped infuse energy and vitality. A community’s growth started from there.”
People often forget when the downtown was a barren place, with few vibrant stores, a handful of restaurants, and empty streets. Today, it is the jewel of economic revitalization. The arts were the catalytic spark that triggered that renaissance of pride and excitement.
Tammy is a believer that art can connect people from different cultures and perspectives. As Board President of Heart of Biddeford and Director of Engine, she worked tirelessly with numerous individuals to bring culture to life. Engine’s “The Rumpus” and Pecha Kucha events showcased the talents and life-stories of individuals of all ages, skills and neighborhoods.
Tammy was a leader in the conception of the York County Maker Faire, a STEAM event for youth and adults, and was a founder of Fringe Fest that brought hundreds of people together, on Main Street, to celebrate community, along with free pie and artist performances.
In her view, everything revolves around culture and the arts, because without culture, there is no commerce. Tammy believes it is important to celebrate, embrace, and advance culture, because it provides the fertile soil needed to allow businesses to grow and prosper.
Leaders of Biddeford and Saco recognized Tammy’s achievements when the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce and Industry awarded her the A. William Kany Jr. Leadership Award. She later, in 2019, received the Rotary Club’s Private Sector Award.
In December 2019, she resigned her position with Engine and in 2023 she opened Mill Pond Ceramics Studio, a small community studio in the North Dam Mill. It now has 90 members strong with classes and workshops for adults of all abilities.
Alan Casavant Civic Leader, Educator, Mentor
In the early 2000’s Biddeford was struggling. Many buildings were
vacant and it seemed like the only activity was Reilly’s bakery on a
Saturday. People spoke about how vibrant downtown used to be, and the
existing businesses were trying, but it didn’t appear that there was hope of a comeback.
Enter Alan Casavant. A high school history teacher, a hockey and soccer coach and a lifelong Biddeford resident with a master’s degree in American and New England Studies, he was fully capable of bringing Biddeford back to life.
His public career included many years of service as a member of the Biddeford City Council, he served as an elected member of the Maine State Legislature serving Biddeford and Kennebunkport, and, of course, he served honorably and effectively as Biddeford’s Mayor.
Alan brought professionalism and business insight into Biddeford. Although very familiar with small town politics, he brought politics and government to a new level. He knew the value of new business and industry He also recognized the creative talent of City employees and believed in their abilities to excel. He also knew we had to expand our thinking to thrive.
Alan had a vision for Biddeford. He knew what the downtown was like in the 50’s and 60’s and he knew that it was possible to see this groundswell of activity happen again. He knew it was Biddeford’s time to come up from the ashes and shine.
He also knew about history. He knew where Biddeford came from. She was full of merchant princes, industrialists, brilliant inventors and statesmen. He knew generations of people who worked in the mills. He knew how clever and hard working they were. He knew they took pride in their work and their community. He welcomed new arrivals to Biddeford, respecting and encouraging these new residents, honoring their customs and heritage.
It is the combination of all of these attributes that made Alan a real change-agent for our community We would not have the success that we experience today without his leadership.
Holly Culloton Master Gardener, Social Advocate
Holly Culloton has a long-established relationship with Biddeford.
Beginning in 2001 with the opening of her well-loved Main Street
restaurant, Bebe’s Burritos, she would regularly open her space for after-
hours get-togethers with local artists, and would hold community Thanksgiving potluck dinners for staff and locals. Holly was active in the movement to revitalize downtown Biddeford and was a key player in the formation of the Heart of Biddeford, serving as a long-term member of the Board of Directors, chair of its Design Committee, and a two-year term as Board President.
Holly moved to Biddeford in 2006, and in 2007 embarked on a 10-year journey as a classroom facilitator with Violence No More, helping male participants explore patterns of domestic violence and learn non-violent coping and conflict resolution skills.
In 2012, Holly helped found Heart of Biddeford’s Adopt a Park program to assist the city with the care and maintenance of our public parks from spring to fall, and was program coordinator for thirteen years.
Following the death of George Floyd in 2020, Holly, a dedicated community activist, co-founded Biddeford-Saco Area Showing Up for Racial Justice. The 135-member group focuses on anti- racism work and led its first Black History Walking Tour in 2024 with over 90 people in attendance.
Holly powered the development of Biddeford’s community gardens for people to grow vegetables and flowers, which began in 2012 with the Pierson’s Lane Children’s Garden. In 2013 she became a Certified Master Gardener, and in 2018 she co-founded Biddeford Community Gardens, with the creation of the Mission Hill Community Garden, followed by expansions into Williams Court and Rotary Park. In 2023, Biddeford Community Gardens donated 1300 pounds of fresh vegetables to Biddeford Food Pantry, Bon Appetit, and Youth Full Maine.
In 2020, Holly was the Volunteer of the Year for Biddeford’s Spirit of America Award.
Jim & Lynn Godbout Humanitarians, Community Spirited
It gives me a good feeling inside to help others… We’re only here a very short time. See what you can do to make a difference in someone else’s life.”
Lynn and Jim Godbout live those words and define what it means to be part of this community. As a team, their fingerprints are everywhere, through their work and donations. They give of themselves, their time, their talents, and their hearts. They are pillars of the community and have been for many years.
The Godbouts played a crucial role in the renovation of Waterhouse Field, a project that revitalized one of the city’s most important athletic facilities. Leading by example, their volunteerism provided the catalyst for an army of skilled workers to assure that future generations of Biddeford’s youth will have a top-quality venue for sports and community events.
More recently, Lynn and Jim have been deeply involved in the redevelopment of the historic St. Andre’sChurchanditsconversionintoMyPlaceTeenCenter. Manypeopledismissedthisrenovation as impossible, but the Godbouts believed in the mission of MPTC in providing a nurturing environment for our city’s youth, and their leadership and energy brought people together to magnificently secure the vision of the project.
Jim and Lynn are devoted to improving the quality of life of others. They have been instrumental in ensuringthatfamiliesstaywarmduringMaine’sharshwinters. Jimhasprovidedemergencyplumbing andheatingservicestothoseinneed,oftenatnocost. SpearheadingaprojectwiththeRegionalCenter of Technology, Jim helped secure tax-acquired properties from the city and, with student involvement and his mentoring, created affordable housing.
Since 1998, they have also been stalwart members of the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club, contributing thousands of hours to various community service projects. Their dedication to the Rotary’s mission of “Service Above Self” is evident in every aspect of their volunteer work.
Having seen the devastation of substance abuse among family and friends, the Godbouts have been committed to youth drug prevention through their active participation in Rotary’s Red Ribbon Committee. Their efforts in this area demonstrate their dedication for encouraging “healthy and thriving behaviors” without the harmful influences of misused substances.
Whenever the community needs volunteers, Jim and Lynn are there. Whether it’s Lynn’s work with Esther House or Jim’s with the Biddeford Athletic Association, they are willing to help. Their selfless service has touched numerous aspects of life in Biddeford, from education to recreation to social services. Quite simply, their tireless efforts have consistently made a tangible difference in the lives of countless Biddeford residents and have helped to make our city a better place in which to live.
Dr. Michael Guignard Historian, Author, Preserver of Culture
Growing up in a bilingual, Franco-American family, Michael Guignard
graduated, in 1965, from St. Louis High School and utilized his heritage
and love of community to capture the essence of local culture through his
doctoral Franco research and its eventual conversion into a book, published in 1982, La Foi-La Langue-La Culture: The Franco-Americans of Biddeford, Maine. The dedication reads: “To my parents, Rella and Wilfrid Guignard, who toiled at the Pepperell Mill to ensure that I would not become a millworker.”
He holds Ph.D and M.A. degrees in Social Science from Syracuse University and a B.A. in Government from Bowdoin College. He is fluent in Spanish, French and a working knowledge of Italian.
Mr. Guignard’s career focused on immigration, initially as a U.S Consul with the State Department in Montreal, Canada, where he issued immigrant visas for those wishing to settle in the U.S. He also served in Costa Rica, Japan, and Italy. Retiring after 17 years from the State Department, he worked as an immigration specialist with a law firm. He continues, today, to help immigrants, as needed.
Michael has published many articles on individuals of Franco heritage, including Urbain Ledoux (Mr. Zero), the Decary Brothers, the Good Shepherd Sisters, Curé Jean Ponsardin, St. Andre’s Home for Unwed Mothers, and Maine’s Corporation Sole Controversy, which won the Maine Historical Society’s best essay for 1972. Michael has always stressed the role of Biddeford in his stories. Urbain Ledoux, for example, had dozens of articles written about him, but seldom was his hometown mentioned. Michael corrected that omission.
He is currently writing an article on Héloise Painchaud Renouf (1872-1959), a very talented singer, song writer, musician and music teacher.
Mr. Guignard has also served on the board of Saint Francis College’s French-Canadian Institute and did research on La Justice, a Biddeford French newspaper, for the Institute.
Tonya Shevenell, who made a film about her father’s retracing of the route that Israel Shevenell walked to reached Biddeford, once said that Michael’s article about Israel gave her the idea to embark on that project.
In 2007, Mr. Guignard was awarded the Biddeford Historical Society’s Georgia Truslow’s Memorial Award for “outstanding dedication and service in the preservation of Biddeford Maine History”
