SENIOR SCAPE: The Maple Leaf Forever!

April 27, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jim Abram

The “Maple Leaf Forever” Project was made possible as a result of an “Act of God” when Mother Nature felled the famous historic Toronto tree in a violent storm in 2013.
Through the efforts of Fred Ash and his associates within the Ontario Wood Carvers, the Aurora Seniors’ Centre was fortunate enough to receive a small portion of this historic tree and ultimately turned 30 pens which became the property of the Aurora Seniors’ Association.
The Aurora Seniors’ Association is proud to recognize and acknowledge the significant volunteer contributions Ron Coe has made over his many years of volunteer service with a Maple Leaf Forever Volunteer Appreciation Award.
Ron and the Wood Carvers Team designed and created the “Maple Leaf Forever” commemorative pens to recognize significant contributions of significant contributors to the quality of life of seniors in Aurora. It is hard to know where to begin in summarizing this noted recipient, Ron Coe’s contributions and accomplishments.
Ron has served two full terms as a Director on the ASA Board where his contributions have been nothing but exemplary and always providing positive decisions to benefit all members of the Seniors’ Centre.
I have enjoyed serving on the Board with Ron as has all other past and current Directors as well as the past president, without exception. He is truly a pleasure to work with.
Ron is the coordinator of the ASA wood shop, keeping it safe, efficient, cost effective , well equipped and as a pleasant and friendly environment to create all sorts of things imaginable and unimaginable from pens, cabinets, award winning parade floats, plant boxes, woodcarving and many handyman requests for ASA members. He is our all-round handyman in designing and building projects that keep our wood shop and the entire Centre functional, safe and efficient in every respect.
In fact, Ron has never, to my knowledge, turned down a request to build creative fixtures, cabinets and other items requested by the ASA, the Town of Aurora, Sport Hall of Fame and individual member requests for the love of woodworking.
Without Ron, we “wood” be at a loss (no pun intended!).
Ron volunteered and served as the past chair of the ASA Food Services Committee and no one went hungry. Ron designs, creates and volunteers for the Haunted Forest making it a real scary event that townsfolk of all ages enjoy every October.
Ron Coe won a Gold medal in Progressive Euchre representing the ASA at the York Region 55+ summer Games held at the King City Seniors Centre! That is quite an accomplishment given the high level of skill and experience seniors have at Euchre.
Ron also contributed to the Pan Am games. Angus Glen Golf Club, one of Canada’s most prestigious golf courses, hosted the first-ever Pan Am Games golf tournament in 2015 and Ron designed and created just short of 200 tee box markers in our very own woodshop.
You’ll find one of these tee box markers in the display case in the reception area of the Aurora Seniors’ Centre. You will find many of Ron’s creations in the display case at the Centre including the Maple Leaf Forever pen that Ron also created as well as the many awards for various Canada Day and Santa Under the Stars parade floats which Ron designs and builds. Check it out. You will be impressed.
Ron and the woodworking experts also built several raised flower boxes like the one at the entrance to the Seniors’ Centre and the garden boxes at the CHATS new therapeutic garden. When described, CHATS felt compelled to make this happen for their Day Program clients and staff. Ron’s significant contribution in the creation of the raised garden boxes for the deck, at cost, all erected to be fully accessible from both the back entrance as well as ramped to the driveway are fully enjoyed by clients and staff at CHATS.
Speaking of ramps, Ron also built ramps to aid in wheelchair accessibility throughout the Town.
Thank You, Ron, for your long-serving, dedicated volunteer service, your many hours spent helping others and your friendship to myself and all members who enjoy this great facility we know as the Aurora Seniors’ Centre!

My final word: Some people judge their success by how much money or power they have…I judge my success by how many times I laugh in a day. We don’t stop laughing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop laughing.

For more information on the Aurora Seniors’ Centre and all it has to offer, drop by 90 John West Way, visit the web site www.auroraseniors.ca, email auroraseniors@rogers.com or call 905-726-4767 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.