MANITOWANING—Assiginack Township council is in support of an Island organization installing a bench and inscription on it in memory of former mayor Paul Moffatt in an area in the community.
“I think this is a great idea,” stated Councillor Dwayne Elliott at a recent Assiginack council meeting.
Seija Deschenes, coordinator of Manitoulin Streams Improvement Association (MSIA) had explained in a letter to council that (MSIA) is looking at erecting a bench in memory of Paul Moffatt, who was a long-time member and active member of Manitoulin Streams. “If you could let me know if the council feels that installing down by the waterfront or behind the township office overlooking the bay would be a good idea that would be great.”
“Paul was one of the founding members of (MSIA),” Ms. Deschenes told The Expositor. “He was my boss and was the first chair of MSIA after we become incorporated in 2007. He stayed on as chair until 2011, then became vice-chair and stayed with us until about 2015 when he stepped down from the board. But he still participated in many of our projects like the brook trout events.”
“I can remember working with him when we had a group planting 6,000 trees from the Blue Jay Creek to the hatchery trees one year,” said Ms. Deschenes. “I remember him kidding around saying some time after the work had been completed, ‘my arms still hurt from the tree planting’.”
“Paul was such a great community member; he was mayor of Assiginack township, a member of the Manor board, the Lake Manitou Area Association, and was on the Manitoulin East Municipal Airport Commission,” said Ms. Deschenes. “He served on so many committees and volunteered in the community for so many years in so many areas.”
“We wanted to have some sort of memorial in memory of Paul, for all the volunteering he did in the community. He was certainly instrumental in Manitoulin Streams getting to where we are today,” said Ms. Deschenes. “We want to have a memorial gathering with Ann, Jason and the family.” She pointed out the Manitowaning Senior Men’s Golf Club held a golfing day recently and raised $400 for the memorial.
“We will look at the best location for the bench with the township,” said Ms. Deschenes. She said the installation of the bench in memory of Mr. Moffatt will probably take place this fall.
