By Brian Lee
In a community held together by volunteers, there’s one who really stands out. It’s partly due to the fact that he’s also the biggest but I can’t think of anyone who might match his efforts. He’d be embarrassed to be identified so I’ll just call him "Ron Fraser."
I’ve received more than a few e-mails suggesting I devote an editorial crediting the man for his work. The truth is I really didn’t need the prompting because his contributions are overwhelmingly obvious. Or are they?
It can be easy to forget the town that was Madeira Park 12 years ago. (See story, p. 8.) By all accounts, the place was looking pretty bleak. Cigarette butts and gravel were deemed acceptable ground cover, complementing a variety of blackened burn barrels and decrepit trash bins. The random assortment of plants grew for free and didn’t need water.
In short, Madeira Park’s landscape was old Pender Harbour — it worked fine, required no maintenance and didn’t try to be too fancy. There may be something about our psychology that clouds the vision of long-time locals.
Maybe it’s an inherited fear about the fragile balance that exists between improving and destroying whatever it is that makes this place unique. Whatever it might be, it’s no secret we seem to happily accept — and protect — the status quo.
It wasn’t until "Ron," who had been coming to the area his whole life before finally moving here a couple decades or so ago, suggested we spruce up the place a bit. It was revolutionary and he received a bit of flak for it.
But people who know Ron might call him stubborn or bull-headed — even arrogant. Whatever label you choose, he pushed ahead with his singular vision and inspired many others to help along the way.
No doubt he stepped on a few toes with his favoured method of starting work before asking permission but it’s how things got done. And it’s hard to discredit someone that not only stands behind his plans, but does much of the physical work and when there’s a funding shortfall, chips in with his own.
The work has renewed a sense of pride in community members inspiring at least one (Joan Disney) to write a poem in Ron’s honour:
There is someone in our community, a kind and unassuming man. Who’s brought such beauty, where once was bare land. You can always find him out there, on any given day, Creating beautiful gardens, in his unassuming way.
There’s more but you get the idea — people deeply appreciate his contributions. Vandalism is way down, businesses have benefited from more visitors and the people who live here get a boost every time they drive through it.
But I’m sure if asked, Ron would just say that if you really want to thank him, chip in with some labour or some cash... because he’s not done yet.