Central Frontenac honours Seniors of the Year

Craig Bakay | Jun 27, 2018

Central Frontenac Township honoured its Seniors of the Year Tuesday afternoon before Council with a ceremony, entertainment by the Arden Glee Club and refreshments.

District 1’s honoree, Dave Swann, was actually born and raised and worked in Toronto much of his life. But he retired as superintendent of maintenance at Toronto’s City Hall after 30 years and moved to Arden in 1995, where he bought his aunt’s house on Big Clear Lane with his wife Sylvia (whom he had met at a church dance 34 years before while Johnny Cash played).

Swann has been very active in the community, volunteering at the Legion, VP with the Kennebec Rec committee, VP at the Mountain Grove Seniors Club and a member of the Arden Seniors. He is also on the Friends of Arden board along with the Kennebec Historical Society and is an active member of the Arden Westleyn Church.

“I’m very happy with this, I enjoy what I do,” he said.

District 2’s honorees, Archie and Marilyn Meeks are known to everyone because they go to everything, said Coun. Victor Heese. Archie is a former member on Hinchinbrooke Township Council and Marilyn is the current Mountain Grove correspondent for the Frontenac News after being the Parham correspondent for many years. They have been active in the United Church for many years and hosted many seniors barbecues at their home.

They have recently moved to Sharbot Lake because of health concerns.

District 3’s honoree, Jim MacPherson is a retired high school teacher who was born and raised in Sharbot Lake. Over the years he has been active in the Lions Club, the Central Frontenac Railway Historical Society, the community policing committee, committee member for the SLHS reunion, Referee-in-chief for the North Frontenac Arena and member of the Summerfest committee.

In recent years, however, he has probably been best known for his musical endeavors including organizing summer jams at the beach, Lion’s Club seniors nights, Oso Rec Open Mikes, 150th Music Cafe, Heritage Festival Variety Shows and music at the beach for Canada Day.

“I’d like to share this award with family, friends and a loving, caring community,” he said.

District 4’s honoree, Joan Wyatt, shouldn’t need much introduction to those in the Parham area.

For close to 30 years, she has been active in Villages Beautiful, Frontenac Community Services Day Away Program, Parham Happy Travelers, and most recently with the OPP helping educate seniors against fraud.