Central Frontenac Seniors of the Year

Jeff Green | Jun 26, 2014

June is Seniors' month and each year Central Frontenac Township honours seniors from each of the four township wards who have made contributions to the life of the township.

This year the honorees were: from Kennebec Ward, Tom Hughes; from Olden, Nancy Thompson; from Oso, Alex MacLeod; and Hinchinbrooke, Dawn and Dave Hansen.

Councilors from each of the wards made the presentations.

Tom Hughes

Tom Hughes was born on a farm on the Clark Road in 1929. and his family moved to Arden when he was six. He attended public school in Arden and high school in Tweed (Sharbot Lake High School opened after his senior year) He went to work for CP in 1949 and remained with the railroad for over 40 years. In the 1950s he also worked for the family bakery, making deliveries to Tamworth, where he met his wife June. They were married in 1956 and have one daughter and four grandchildren. After working in Lavant Station for CP, Tom was transferred to Toronto, then London, and eventually back to Toronto.

The family moved back to Arden when Tom retired in 1993. Since then he has been active with the local Masonic lodge, is a steward with the Arden United Church, and has been a member of the Arden Glee Club since 1995. When not busy with family or volunteer pursuits, Tom likes to hunt and fish.

Nancy Thompson

Nancy Thompson joins her aunt and mother Ada and Beth Macdonald, both of whom were named Senior of the Year over a decade ago, as recipients of the award.

She was a long-time employee of both Olden townsip and Central Frontenac. She is the mother of three children, and has 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

She is active in the United Church in Mountain Grove and is a dedicated volunteer for a number of causes. As Councilor John Purdon said, Nancy prefers to work behind the scenes, working in the kitchen at events where food is being served, helping to set up and clean up the hall rather than seeking recognition for her work.

“In fact I expect she would rather be putting out the food than getting up in front of everyone today,” he said.

Nonetheless, Nancy accepted her award graciously, saying “I really appreciate this”.

Alex MacLeod

Alex MacLeod first became associated with Central Frontenac as a renter of a cottage on Sharbot Lake. He eventually retired after 39 years with Bell Canada and bought and renovated one of the cottages he had earlier rented. He was an active volunteer even as a seasonal resident, as a founder of the Sharbot Lake Property Owners Association in 1973. Since becoming a permanent resident he has been very active with the local Lions Club and is a member of the Community Advisory Board to the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team.”

“I am surprised and very appreciative to be receiving this honour,” he said.

Dawn and Dave Hansen

Dawn and Dave were high school sweethearts, and in the words of Councilor Heather Fox, “Dawn didn’t know enough to walk away so they got married”. Dawn worked as an elementary school teacher and Dave owned and ran the Parham Ambulance Service. The couple have a daughter and two grandchildren and live in Tichborne. Dawn was one of the early and long standing volunteers with the North Frontenac Little Theatre and both Dawn and Dave are inextricably linked to the Hinchinbrooke fire department and the Sharbot Lake & District Lions Club. They have both served numerous roles locally and at the regional level with the Lions. They are fixtures in the local community, working as a team and individually on numerous projects.