MISERY BAY – Later this summer, the Friends of Misery Bay (FOMB) will be having special recognition for several people (who were FOMB members) who were integral to the development of the Misery Bay Provincial Park being established over the years.
“Back in 2002 when we started to officially recognize groups, organizations and individuals who have provided tremendous help and support (to the park and FOMB) we started giving out Turtle awards,” said Gaynor Orford of FOMB at its annual general meeting held recently. “This constitutes those who got things started to having a park, the visitors centre, have made generous donations, provided in-kind support, or materials, volunteered to do work on trails and the boardwalk, or for instance donations of furniture to use in the visitors centre.”
Ms. Orford said that in the past few years the FOMB has lost five very important people and they will be honoured later this summer with a plaque with their names on it. “After further discussion where the best spot would be to post the plaque it was decided it would be placed on the rock (and plaque) with the names of Cal and Eunice Sifferd (the couple who donated their property for the park to be established) on it.”
She outlined the five people who will be honoured. “We would not be here without Doreen Bailey spearheading all of this (park idea/concept) years ago,” said Ms. Orford. “If anything was needed during the early days Steve Hall was our go person and with his wealth of knowledge he provided a lot of information that we still use in the park. Jim and Mary Hastings came on in the early 2000s and were involved in using the GPS for all our trails so that we could indicate these trails on our trails map. They provided and trained volunteers on use of the ham radio we have here, and Mary took visitors on interpretive hikes of the park once a week, and they donated many materials for the visitors centre and researched information on Ned Saunders and historical information. Ellie Moore had strong ties to the property (she was the daughter of Cal and Eunice Sifferd), and helped recruit, train and organize volunteers who worked at the visitors centre on weekends, and organized the procedures manual our volunteers still use.”
“To recognize all these people for the contributions they made, we felt it was important they be recognized and remembered,” said Ms. Orford, noting the special recognition ceremony will take place August 11 at Misery Bay Provincial Park. “Every time I come here I see and hear them. And we miss all of them.”
