Two former Centre Wellington District High School teachers continue to make their mark on Canadian communities – locally, nationally and internationally.
The Guelph couple has volunteered across Canada, in the United States and in Europe.
Recently, Ivan and Margaret Stinson received both the Governor General Canadian Caring Award (Feb. 11) and the Landscape Ontario Legacy Award (Jan. 6).
In a recent telephone interview with the Wellington Advertiser Margaret Stinson stated, “we have been volunteering for the past 25 years straight.”
During the couple’s 16 years living in Nova Scotia, they volunteered on a number of committees and projects.
“We were on a committee which causes Maitland to become Nova Scotia’s first heritage conservation district. While we were there we also started and continued the Launch Day festival – commemorating the launching of of the largest square-rigged wooden vessel built in Canada: the William D. Lawrence.
She also took part in a video Older Persons and Active Living, which portrayed older people who kept on doing things to the best of their ability.”
She noted their son attended Centre Wellington high school, went to Dallhousie University and became a lawyer. That son passed away five years ago.
“He was a wonderful volunteer. We are augmenting the things we did in the past and the things he did while he was here on Earth.”
With Communities in Bloom, Stinson said she and her husband acted as provincial and national judges.
“We also helped America in Bloom get started.”
At the time, her husband was chairman of judging while she chaired communication. “He and I together did as volunteers, the merchandise for Canada.”
She said, “With judging, we had connections with communities – not just one year, but numerous years.”
The pair were further honoured in 2014 as they were invited to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island to be honourary hosts for the 20th anniversary of Communities in Bloom and the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference.
“We had an absolutely wonderful time.”
But the horticultural honours didn’t stop there.”
Stinston noted, “We always volunteer with Landscape Ontario and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association.”
This year, the couple received the Legacy award representing a lifetime of giving to horticulture.
She added “My husband is chair of the landscape advisory group in the Village by the Arboreutum.
In 2012 the couple was also involved in the National Tree Day event at Village By the Arboretum.
The couple also does considerable volunteer work at the University of Guelph.
Last year they chaired the University of Guelph’s 50th anniversary garden day.
“It was a wonderful occasion and a lot of people attended,” Stinson said.
In addition, they volunteer at the school convocations, Remembrance Day, and work with them in whatever capacity we are needed.
But the couple’s volunteering is not something recent … it is a history spanning at least a quarter century.
Stinson commented that when they both taught at CWDHS, “We had such wonderful students at Centre Wellington and we are very proud of them. It was wonderful to work with them and see them bring out the best that was in them.”
Stinson added, “I think life is a case of giving back. We are very fortunate to live in Canada. You learn from others by volunteering. You learn new skills and gain new friends. It just continued.”
Retirement allowed Stinson and her husband to volunteer even more.
When attending the Governor General awards, Stinson noted there were 19 individuals up for the honours.
“Ivan and I were the only couple.”
She also noted that for the others, the awards for concentrated efforts on specific causes such as helping the blind, St. John Ambulance, or cancer.
The award for the Stinsons was based on their volunteering in a number of fields and communities.
She said it was interesting that following the couple being interviewed by CTV Kitchener – the station featured the pair as local heroes.
“I think we’re very thankful to be able to volunteer and to give back
Comments made about the Stinsons during the presentation of the Governor General Caring Canadian award included: “Working alongside his wife, Margaret, Ivan Stinson has dedicated much of his time and energy to volunteer work and environmental causes. He has served as a member of the environmental assessment advisory committee of the Grand River Conservation Authority, and is past-president of the Elora Lions Club, through which he has coached minors in local Sports leagues. Upon retiring to Nova Scotia in 1989, Ivan and Margaret helped coordinate the development of the Burncoat Head Park, which subsequently received heritage designation.”
“Working alongside her husband, Ivan, Margaret Stinson has volunteered for numerous events, predominately ones involving gardening and the environment. In 1995, Margaret joined Communities in Bloom, which allowed her to reconcile her love of tourism, horticulture and community. Margaret and Ivan have both served as board members and judges for national- and international-level competitions with Communities in Bloom.”
As the couple received Landscape Ontario’s Legacy award it was noted that it recognizes a lifetime of achievement in the horticulture industry.
The award is given to those who not only impart their knowledge on the people around them, but who also leave something for the generation behind them.
The citation for the award was presented by Phil Dickie, (Member – Landscape Ontario (LO) Horticultural Trades Association and Manager of ‘Fast Forest’), on Jan. 6 at Landscape Ontario’s 42nd anniversary of the Awards of Excellence.
“Ivan and Margaret Stinson had long teaching careers at Centre Wellington District High School in the town of Fergus. I was fortunate enough to have Ivan as my Grade 11 homeroom teacher. It was during those high school years when I first became aware of Margaret and Ivan’s passion and commitment to their community. Over the years, their dedication to several community and environmental initiatives led them to become judges in the Communities in Bloom program on the provincial, national and international levels. For his environmental work, Ivan has received the coveted Governor General’s award. They truly are professional volunteers, community builders and legacy makers.
“Even in their 80s, they have more energy than many people in their 20s. The irony is Margaret and Ivan aren’t even in the industry, yet they still devote so much of their time volunteering at our events. They are true leaders who inspire others by example. Margaret and Ivan cheerfully volunteer for Communities in Bloom, Canada Blooms, Landscape Ontario, Village by the Arboretum, Canadian Nursery Landscape Association and many other organizations. They organize events such as National Tree Day and Garden Day at University of Guelph during their 50th anniversary celebrations.
“They selflessly contribute their time, organizational expertise and resources to their church and community. They are tireless stewards of the environment and enthusiastic supporters of gardens and community beautification. Most importantly, they excel at enriching the lives of all the people they touch.”
Landscape Ontario states it is “proud” to honour Margaret and Ivan Stinson with the Legacy Award.
