As many of you know I was great friends and a colleague of Harold Simpson who passed away while I was living in Australia in 2005.
Harold was one of those amazing people who were always involved and helping our community.
How appropriate it was to name the Youth Centre after him.
Well, this year we have lost two people that I am honoured to say were also my friends and did so much for Summerland.
Enid Maynard was a real character who was always an advocate for the planting and preservation of trees in our area.
For many years Enid would meet regularly with our department to encourage strategies for the planting of trees in Summerland.
She would apply for grants and generously donated her own money to buy new trees for our different projects.
Unfortunately in the last few years Enid’s health had deteriorated and she passed away in June.
But true to her word the “Tree Lady” as many of us knew her left in her will $10,000.00 for the planting of trees in Summerland which will be a legacy for years to come.
Another character, who not only I knew but most of Summerland did as well, was John Tamblyn.
A former principal at Summerland Secondary School, John didn’t let retirement slow him down one bit.
His involvement with the Summerland Kiwanis was legendary and the projects he initiated and supported are too numerous to mention.
I will miss his visits to my office and the invites to speak at Kiwanis meetings where he and Jerry Hallquist used to heckle me and then with big laughs solve the politics of the day.
People like Enid and John were part of the magic of living here in Summerland and will certainly be missed. This weekend Ironman takes over the South Okanagan but don’t forget the September long weekend when the exciting local Summerland Orca Kids of Steel and Sprint Triathlon takes place.
Dale MacDonald is Summerland’s recreation director.