Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Rotarians honoured a couple of very deserving community supporters with their major international honour Thursday.

Mallory Silver and Jesse Grimes received Paul Harris award named in honour of the worldwide service club’s founder recognizing them for demonstrating Rotary’s principles of “Service Above Self.”

The pins and certificate presentations were made at the annual president’s night change of officer dinner at the Pines Restaurant on Sparrow Lake attended by 80 members and supporters.

Departing president John Latour, who chaired his last meeting, also received a “PH” award before introducing the newest recipients and handing over the gavel to Tom Long, his successor and the incoming president.

Rotarian Ross Jeffery nominated Silver and in his remarks he said:

Mallory Silver

“On top of her full-time job as events co-ordinator for the OPP in Orillia, Mallory somehow finds time to volunteer in the community.

“She sits on the board of the Gravenhurst Curling Club and Pickleball Centre. As the chair of communications she does all the IT for the curlers, including designing their current website. And she collaborates with the fundraising committee writing grant applications and helping conduct an online auction. As well, she supports bonspiels (such as the Town of Gravenhurst’s Funspiel) and runs the Sunday Tag curling league.”

In addition she has sat on the working committee for the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival, and on the boards of directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters Muskoka.

“Mal is also a cancer survivor — now seven years clear — and still maintains contact with other survivors she met and worked with at Gilda’s House in Toronto.

“Wow! If Mallory doesn’t represent Service Above Self, I don’t know who does.”

Jesse Grimes

Fellow Rotarian John Cooper said this about Grimes, who he nominated:

“It is a most difficult challenge to tell all that Jesse — the sole owner of Sobey’s grocery store — has done for our community, but here goes.

“Firstly, he and his staff do so much to support GAP’s efforts to stretch their bucks to feed our needy citizens on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and for its major deliveries to 850 citizens on Thursdays.

“Jesse has welcomed Rotary to set up in front of Sobey’s to sell hot dogs and drinks. And, to increase all the proceeds that are returned to the community, he leans on his suppliers for special donations. Jesse also does this for other charitable groups such as schools and the Lion’s Club.”

Cooper went on to add: “We all recall four days of continual snowfall on December 1 (2024). Suffice it to say that Jesse turned his and his business upside down to be open and his parking lot to be cleared. And after collecting staff at home, he loaded his truck with food and drinks and drove up and down Bethune Drive and Highway 11 to serve vehicle and transport drivers who had been stuck for hours, many of who had run out of gas and were is desperate states.

“Such was Jesse’s activity level, that our Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith made mention of this in remarks at Queens Park, about the heroic activity generated by Jesse Grimes during one of the worst snow storms in recorded history in South Muskoka.

“Fast forward to March 30’s ice storm. There was some warning that this was coming. “Jesse leased a huge generator and had it hauled to his store. Next was to have it hooked up. None of the electrical authorities were available, but a member of his hockey team, who is an electrician and his pal, did the job — despite the warning from some not to do so.

“Jesse ignored them in an emergency, and despite most other businesses being without power two to eight days, Sobey’s was open. The challenge was to find enough fuel to feed this monster machine travelling to Bracebridge for refills. But by hook and by crook he stayed open as the only provider of food for some distance.”

Then there was a hockey tournament, which eventually took place. And, yes, there was power at the arena, but to feed all these out-of-towners who were sleeping in their cars and left stranded in the arena? Jesse and Sobey’s was the only answer.

“One can continue with more substantiation. But my time is up. You all get the drift.

“We are so privileged to have Jesse serving the best interests of our community.”

In honour of Silver and Grimes, the Gravenhurst Rotary Club donated $1,000 each to the Rotary International Foundation as a way of expressing appreciation toward those who support its humanitarian, educational and community endeavours. An investment in the ideal of good will, peace and understanding — ideals held high by Rotarians worldwide.

Harris was a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary in 1905 — with three other business people. A “PH” recognition is a tribute to those whose life efforts demonstrate the shared purpose and objectives of the Rotary Foundation — Service Above Self.

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