With an extra cheque of $5,000, the Elora Lions Club were able to cap off the completion of the boardwalk through Bissell Park on Sept. 27.
Family, friends and well-wishers gathered for the late afternoon event.
John Morris, president of the Elora Lions, welcomed those gathered.
“As you can see the stone monument is not quite upright yet … but it will be.”
He noted the stone had just arrived that afternoon and at a weight of roughly one ton, he doubted those attending could simply lift it into place.
“We had the people from Fergus Memorials do the engraving and install the Lions Club Plaque.”
He anticipated being able to finalize stone placement with the approval from the municipality.
Morris also acknowledged the efforts of Andy Goldie, of Centre Wellington Township, who has worked with the Lions throughout the project.
He also noted the work of Shawn Watters, a local Wellington County councillor, who assisted in the design work of the boardwalk.
Most of all, Morris acknowledges the work “of all the Lions who have worked over the past four summers and early this summer.”
He explained the actual construction started in the summer of 2009 and was built in stages and was completed in early July 2012.
“It took a lot longer and was a lot more work than we thought it would.”
He said construction was sometimes once a week, sometimes three in the evenings.
“Lion Jim (Keating) was our main supervisor. We really didn’t know how to do things until he told us.”
“I think he was here every day we did some work except for one or two days.”
Morris quipped that many times the boards would be cut and then members would say, “no … Jim won’t let this go. Jim had to get it quite right.”
“There was quite a bit of kibitzing back and forth, but it was really fun.
The other person who may not have missed any nights was Harold Drimmie.
“All the other Lions were there 80 to 90 per cent of the time.”
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj considered the event “a very special evening for the community.”
“This is a time when we celebrate the riverfront. I remember back when I was a very green, new councillor in the 1990s and I had to go to the Lions because Nora Carlaw and I really wanted a walking bridge to connect our two communities together.
“And (the Lions) were right there to help us with the walking bridge.
Then when we got into the park, there were no plans for it – but lots of ideas.
“So they came and built the picnic shelter so we could come down to enjoy the riverfront.
“Then this last project, with the walkway, has been enjoyed by some many of our residents on a daily basis. It’s just a natural place to come down and go for a stroll.
“I want to thank you so much for bringing the waterfront to the community and our visitors. It is just absolutely stunningly beautiful.
“I can’t thank you enough. It is so positive to see the results.
Morris noted the Lions had pledged $50,000 over a 10-year period – “but when we looked at our books, we forgot to pay one year.
As a result, the club presented a $5,000 cheque to the township.
Lion Joe Van den Borre read a letter from Lions Club International recognizing the achievement of Hugh Waind in his completing 50 years as a member of the Elora Lions Club.
