December 15, 2020

GORD DURNAN ADDS COLOUR TO TOWN AS SENIOR OF THE YEAR

GRAVENHURST — You could say Gord Durnan doesn’t act his age.

If you’ve ever seen his wardrobe — and you can’t miss him — you’d think the colourful character was on the golf course all year.

To say he stands out is an understatement.

He is a stand-out who would make a great town crier.

And Senior of the Year in Gravenhurst.

It’s a good thing, too, because the year in almost over.

Durnan is one of 20 in 2020 handed out as part of a provincial recognition program.

Or you might say one of a kind.

Because the gregarious golf bag man is acting just about as you’d think a senior should at his stage of life.

That being 76 on Jan. 17.

He received the award this afternoon on a town council Zoom meeting.

And he expects to receive the certificate later this evening in a special delivery after the meeting.

“It’s been a crazy 10 days,” say the ever exuberant near octogenarian.

Last week his mother-in-law, Dorothy Andrews died at age 92.

She had until a few years ago lived with Durnan and his artist wife Dale at their home on the Narrows Road overlooking Lake Muskoka.

But after a stop at Gravenhurst Manor she lived her last years at the Muskoka Shores until Wednesday, where Durnan said despite COVID she received “excellent care.”

“They couldn’t have been better.”

So the award helps take a little sting out of life and death.

Especially after Dale broke her wrist just before her mom’s passing and then today she had a tooth out.

So, no wonder it’s been a hectic week and-a-half.

The award comes late — due to COVID — and is usually presented in the spring.

But it was a surprise none-the-less a delighted Durnan told MuskokaTODAY.com tonight.

“Very exciting,” he said.

A 31-year Rotarian, Durnan was nominated by fellow Rotarian John Cooper and his wife Denise, who helped put the submission together.

“Gravenhurst is a fabulous place. Walking down the street is like old home week,” he says of being a cottager for 75 years and a permanent resident the past 33 years.

And as a descendant of the pioneering Mickle family in town, he knows a lot of people.

That helped him in his 30 years a fundraiser for South Muskoka Memorial Hospital.

“I’ve known some of those donors for more than 40 years.”

After leaving the hospital in the early 2000s he used his contacts and connections to start the Muskoka Community Foundation in 2007, which he says “will change Muskoka for decades.”

Indeed, while he’s no longer with the foundation, today their $7,500 transportation donation to Gravenhurst Against Poverty (GAP) helped them launch a free twice-weekly taxi service for those in need with $5,000 of that money.

Durnan is also a volunteer with GAP.

He says community foundation has given away more $1 million to community projects and citizens.

As a former six-year member and finally two-year chair of the Nipissing University board of governors in 2017-18, he’s still an advisor to the president on their capital campaign. Last year he received an honorary doctorate from them.

“I like to keep helping friends,” he says modestly.

But at his heart he’s still, well, good old boy “Gord.”

**Gord Durnan raises a toast to Gravenhurst founding father J. P. Cockburn this summer in what could have just as well been a toast to the flamboyant Gravenhurst Senior of the Year.**

They guy who’s always got a ‘Happy Buck’ at Rotary to announce something positive going on in town.

“I’m still the same guy doing what I can for the community with pride.”

Mayor Paul Kelly cited his numerous contributions to Gravenhurst and the surrounding Muskoka community.

“Gord has served our community and the entire District of Muskoka in countless ways. His dedication to volunteerism is without precedent in Gravenhurst. … He certainly is a deserving recipient of this award. … Gord’s contributions are countless, including his early years serving as a lifeguard and swimming instructor.”

The award noted that through his many connections and extensive and growing network, he has been able to encourage many full time and seasonal residents and families to support specific Muskoka interests, be it in arts, sports, hospitals, the environment or charities serving residents of all ages in the community.

In years past, Durnan also served on the town’s economic development committee and with the PMCN (Parry Sound Muskoka Community Network). He also sits on the Muskoka Steamship and Discovery Centre Advisory Committee and was an appointed member of the Veridian Connections, now (Elexicon Energy) community advisory committee, for the past five terms of council.

A strong supporter of the town’s Community Spirit Awards program, Durnan served as chair and emcee, which he describes as “one of most satisfying volunteer experiences.”

The Ontario Senior of the Year Award gives each municipality in Ontario the opportunity to honour one outstanding local Ontarian who after the age of 65 has enriched the social, cultural or civic life of his or her community.