SILVER WATER—Whether it has been his home community of Silver Water or when he lived in Walden, volunteering has always been a big part in the life of Murray Duncanson.
“I was involved in the student council in high school, when the high school was located in Gore Bay where the Manitoulin Lodge Nursing Home is located now,” said Mr. Duncanson. “It was after I left high school that Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) was built.”
And even before high school, “I was a member of the Young Peoples Group in Silver Water, run by the United Church, but with kids from all church denominations being involved,” said Mr. Duncanson. “It was a very good organization, and it was a great experience,” he said, noting, “we organized functions for ourselves.” He pointed out the United Church in those days had the young people’s group on the Island and in Sudbury.
“We would hold meetings and events on weekends. One time we were at Treasure Island for a rally there,” said Mr. Duncanson. The event always involved United Church ministry and administrators (on hand to supervise), “and when we held meetings in Sudbury, we were billeted by the hosting group.”
He still volunteers with the Anglican Church in Gore Bay, and helped with construction of the United Church in Silver Water. He also helped with repairs of the former Anglican Church in the community.
After high school Mr. Duncanson took a welding course in Toronto, and he started working at Inco in 1961.
“Some of my volunteering work in Walden included with the Walden Minor Hockey Association (WMHA) as one of its founding members,” said Mr. Duncanson.
“I was involved in the WMHA for 25 years in various positions, coaching, managing, and was the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) convenor for quite a few years,” continued Mr. Duncanson. He was also involved with the Nickel District Hockey Association for a number of years, in various capacities.
“I helped start the Snowmobile Club in Walden, and have worked for, and been a director on the Manitoulin Snowdusters Snowmobile Club since I retired and came home, about 30 years at least,” said Mr. Duncanson. “I was here in Silver Water a lot on weekends, when I lived in Walden.”
“I guess I’ve been a member of the Robinson Township Fire Department for between 25-30 years,” continued Mr. Duncanson.
He retired from Inco in Copper Cliff in 1992. I served an apprenticeship in Trade apprenticeship and was involved in boilermaking, plate work, and did lot of layout, building and repairing plants, he said.
“I still volunteer with the Manitoulin Snowdusters and the (Robinson) Fire Department. I still go to fire practice.”
Mr. Duncanson also served on the Local Services Board (LSB) in Robinson township for 16 years, 12 of those years as chairman. “I left because I felt it was time for younger people to take on these positions.”
“I remember a saying my day would always say, ‘if a person feels that they can’t be replaced, it is high time they were. I had that in the back of my mind when I resigned from the LSB,” he quipped.
