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William Alexander Dempsey
July 26, 1919 - August 15, 2008
Long
time resident and a founding member of the CCRA Bill Dempsey passed
away in Carberry, Manitoba on Friday August 15th, 2008.
For over 50 years Bill resided on Cedarview Drive in Highland Creek.
In 2004 Bill and his wife Evelyn returned to live in Manitoba.
Bill
was born and raised on a farm in Manitoba. He served as an army
lieutenant in WWII. Following the war he attended the University
of Toronto studying Social Work and Town Planning. Over the
years Bill had appointments with the Ontario Government in the
Community Planning and Housing Branches and was Secretary to two
committees on rent control. He also served as special assistant
to the Honourable Walter Dinsdale, Federal Minister of Northern
Affairs. One of Bill’s proudest accomplishments at that time was
the establishment of the Dawson Festival in 1963. Following that
he was Executive Assistant to the Director and Superintendent of Board
Services for the North York Board of Education. He continued his
commitment to his colleagues at the Board as President Emeritus of the
North York Non-Teaching Retirees’ Association. Bill was also a
very active member of the Centennial Rouge United Church continuing
his involvement in the church even after he left the community in
2004.
In
November of 1949 a group of residents of our community met at
Centennial Road Public School to form the Centennial Community and
Recreation Association. Bill served as the Associations’ first
president and for several years thereafter. Much of the way our
community exists today is due to the efforts of Bill over the years.
He was instrumental in establishing the official plan and zoning for
our community. The plan and zoning still exists today and is the basis
for any future development of our community. Bill appeared
numerous times before Scarborough Council and the Ontario Municipal
Board to argue in favour of upholding the planning by-laws in place
for our community. Bill also fought for the preservation of the
Centennial, Adams and Highland Creeks that flow through our community.
He made numerous deputations before the conservation authority to
ensure these watercourses were retained in their natural state.
For his many years of dedication to conservation the William Alexander
Dempsey Eco Park was dedicated in his honour. This park is
located in the vicinity of Ellesmere and Meadowvale Rd. The
creation of Adams Park was also an initiative Bill undertook along
with the CCRA. In the early years of the CCRA, Bill had a vision
for a trail along the waterfront in our community. After many
letters, deputations and meetings involving Bill and others in the
community the first phase of that trail became a reality in 2006.
Bill came from Carberry last fall to view the completed section of the
trail and receive an award from the Toronto Region Conservation
Authority.
Over
the years Bill received many awards and acknowledgements for the hours
of volunteer work he did on behalf of the community. Bill did
not hesitate to write a letter to politician or agency if he felt our
community was being threatened by an unfavourable development or
something impacting our community that needed to be addressed.
He had the ability to recall discussions that had taken place on
issues in the past and letters or documents that may have been written
about an issue. This incredible recall of past information
proved to be invaluable in many cases. We are sorry that Bill is
no longer able to share that wisdom and depth of knowledge with us.
We will also dearly miss his friendship.
I
know the community will share with me our expression of deepest
sympathy to Bill’s wife Evelyn and his children Bill, David and Shawna.
Jeff
Forsyth
President
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