ELORA – What compels a person to spend much of their time bettering the community?
You could ask Ann Ironside – but she may be too busy to answer.
Born in England on July 25, 1943, Ann later moved at just 18 months old with her parents to Cape Breton.
When Ann was 11, her parents’ relationship dissolved.
Ann, along with her two siblings, went with their mother to England, where she lived for the next 12 years, and met and married Ted Ironside.
Ironside was in the Royal Navy, and the couple was later stationed in Singapore for two years.
“We moved there when my daughter, Lorraine, was six months old,” Ann recalled.
Her husband suggested moving the family to New Zealand, but she was adamantly against it.
“It was 1966. It was way too far from my mom, from everybody. I said I’d go to Canada, because I’d lived there before.”
Ann’s youngest daughter, Donna Belcastro of Elora, said the family “emigrated from England to give us a better life – and that she did.”
Belcastro recalled her mother was always busy when she was a child.
“Busy is one of the best words to describe her; we went to some volunteering events with her, and I still go to garden sales and the (New to You) fashion shows in Fergus.”
Belcastro spoke of her mother’s love of travelling the world.
“She always made sure we had a fun trip every year, if not abroad [then] just camping.
“Her energy level is above and beyond, and (she) will do anything for anyone.”
Belcastro said her mother carried that energy and commitment “through her retirement, with her grandchildren, and as an ardent gardener.
“She got involved in volunteering in everything she was asked to do, refusing to say ‘no.’”
Ann admits it’s hard for her to decline requests for volunteer work.
The family lived in London, Ontario for several years. Ann began as a part-time file clerk with The Co-operators General Insurance Company, while Ironside joined the city’s police department.
“I ended up getting promoted to supervisor of the file area, and from there I went on to become one of the first analysts involved with implementing computers.
Ann was later transferred, and the family moved to Guelph.
The family moved to Inverhaugh in 1989.
“To be in the country,” Ann said, adding, “it was lovely.”
Ironside took early retirement, followed by Ann when she turned 60.
The couple moved to Drew in 2009 after losing a four-year battle to stop gravel quarry’s from starting in Inverhaugh.
When she was asked to return to The Co-operators a year later, she accepted.
“I failed at retirement,” she said.
“I never should have retired when I did; I loved my job.
“I went back and worked three more years.”
She at last retired at 63 — “but I still failed,” she said.
Ann began volunteering at a native plant nursery in Alma.
“Native plants are a passion of mine,” she said.
Since retirement, Ann has become a master gardener.
She describes her backyard garden as a “spring garden” carefully designed and tended to since moving to Elora in 2011.
Ironside passed in 2021, and Ann has been managing her home and gardens, as well as spending time with five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She’s also as busy as ever with volunteering as president of the Elora Salem Horticultural Society, and with the Groves Hospital Volunteer Association (GHVA) — the latter for the past 14 years.
In 2009, Ann accepted a part-time job with the GHVA.
GHVA manager Nancy Peer-Lalani said Ann “was instrumental in getting my current role set up.”
Ann began volunteering with GHVA after an advisor role ended, and she eventually became president.
“Ann was instrumental in the GHVA buying the property where the New to You (NTY) now operates,” Peer-Lalani said.
“Ann is one of those people who has a long-term vision and the drive to make things happen. Ann was the first person I met at the GHVA when I started, and her passion and dedication to the GHVA mission was apparent from day one.
“She helped me immensely on the job, sharing her wealth of knowledge about the GHVA and the Centre Wellington community. She is a hard worker, who finishes what she starts and does it well,” Peer-Lalani said.
Groves Foundation executive director Lori Arsenault said, “Ann Ironside is an instrumental volunteer working on the planting and maintenance of the Healing Gardens at Groves Hospital, which provide a beautiful and calming environment to be enjoyed by patients, visitors, staff, volunteers, and physicians.
“Ann has also taken a leadership role in planning for, planting, and continued improvements on the pollinator garden at [the hospital] to help cultivate our local bee population, along with the other members of the Elora Salem Horticultural Society,” Arsenault explained.
NTY manager Clare Palmer described Ann as a vital part of the GHVA.
“Ann has always been and continues to be the person I go to for advice and to brainstorm with for new ideas,” Palmer said.
“She is everything the GHVA stands for; passionate, strong and totally committed to Groves Memorial Community Hospital and the GHVA mission — a true inspiration to all those that she meets.”
Peer-Lalani said, “Ann can be counted on always. She is the first to put her hand up and doesn’t deviate from the unpopular decisions that need to be made. She is a pleasure to know and to work with.”
Ann has been the master of ceremonies at several NTY fashion shows, including one held in April at the Fergus Legion.
Ann is also a member of Centre Wellington 100 Women Who Care.
Founder Tracy Bachly said she met Ann 14 years ago.
“I have come to realize how much of her time has been devoted to giving back to the community,” Bachly said.
“She was the one who inspired me to start up 100 Women Who Care in Centre Wellington,” Bachly said.
“One word that Ann Ironside isn’t familiar with is ‘no’. Today, she still continues to commit so much of her time to working with various groups within the community,” Bachly added.
Ann also hosted a garden show, and a show delving into local issues on the local Cogeco cable station in Fergus for more than a decade. Despite the demands of her volunteer work, Ann recently found time to take singing lessons.
“I had never been in a choir before,” she said.
“I’m a member of the Centre Wellington Singers, a local community choir. A week ago, we had our well-attended spring concert.”
Ann said she likes to be in the centre of things.
“I love this community. I like that people talk to each other. It’s friendly. I do kind of get passionate about things,” she said, adding, “it’s a very caring community; it’s small enough to be able to wrap your arms around.”
Belcastro said her mother committed to providing the best life for her family.
“And it shows in her volunteering,” she said. “The community is a better place with her in it.”
