Bon Echo “Friends” boost park to Ontario's top 5

Aug 23, 2012

Photo: classical guitarist Tod Paul Dorozio entertained at Bon Echo Park’s amphitheatre on August 18For those who have never visited Bon Echo Park located just north of Cloyne on Mazinaw Lake- the park is a must see. The immense majesty of Mazinaw Rock’s cliff face, the deep clear waters of Mazinaw Lake, and the scent and beauty of its towering eastern white pines make it a nature lover’s paradise. Add to that its historic gift /book shop and gallery and visitors centre, the daily boat tours and boat rentals, an annual art show /sale plus a wide of array of educational programming, and Bon Echo is not only is a beautiful place to camp but also a beautiful place to learn.

And this is all thanks to a small group of Bon Echo Park enthusiasts, a group known as the Friends of Bon Echo. The Friends formed in 1988 and their fundraising efforts and commitment to preserving the park’s natural and cultural heritage over the last 20 plus years, plus their support of educational programming in particular, have recently catapulted the park into the ranks of the top five provincial parks in Ontario.

Christina Richards, who is one of 14 natural heritage education leaders at Bon Echo, highlighted the upcoming events at the park and stressed the fact that it is because of the Friends that the park has been able to offer such a broad range of special programming to the over 200,000 people who visit it annually. “We are more fortunate than most parks in Ontario in that we have the Friends of Bon Echo here who enable us to offer the special programming that we do. Without them we would not have the programs or the educational staff that we have here at the park. It’s specifically because of their fundraising efforts that we have risen in the ranks of Ontario parks. Without the Friends that would not be the case.“

For the second year in a row the Friends have been offering a diverse line up of entertainers and speakers at the park’s outdoor amphitheatre. On August 18 I had the pleasure of taking a performance by renowned classical guitarist Tod Paul Dobrozio. He was joined onstage by musical friends Anna Antropova on violin and Samnatha Chang on flute and all three played selections from Dobrozio’s wide ranging original repertoire. The concert captured that extra magic that Bob Echo offers thanks to the Friends.

On August 22, Astronomer Terrence Dickinson gave a presentation, and there are two more events upcoming.

On August 25, author and national speaker Roy MacGregor will be speaking about the mystery of Canadian painter Tom Thomson at 7pm and lastly, on August 26, “Happy Camper” and author Kevin Callan will be showing the film “Quest for Wilderness” at 7pm. Also thanks to the Friends, who are covering the park admission, guests attending the presentations will be able to enter the park free of charge a half hour before the event. Derek Maggs, the executive director of the Friends, was thrilled with the turnout for the concert and is happy to see so many guests enjoying the special programming that he and the Friends group have put together for this season. Nature lovers will be happy to know that due to high demand the park will be extending its season by two weeks this fall and will remain open until October 21. For more information visit The Friends of Bon Echo website at www.bonechofriends.ca or call the park office at 613-336-2228. Other information about the park can be found by visiting the Ontario parks website at www.ontarioparks.com