Remembering Kevin

Kevin John McDonald shocked his friends and family by leaving us suddenly on January 23, 2020. Kevin was a unique soul- loving, brilliant, creative, challenging. If you met Kevin he left quite an impression. If you knew Kevin he’s left a whole in your heart. In February 2020 I was blessed to go to a memorial for him held by his family in Toronto. It was beautiful to see people to come together to celebrate Kevin. I wanted to be able to do that in Niagara but, alas, the pandemic reared its ugly head and the world was put on hold.

I have struggled with the loss of Kevin. I wanted to do something to celebrate/remember him in Niagara, where he spend half his life. I started to research various memorial ideas and found information on memorial benches. But where to put it? Ball’s Falls held a place special in Kevin’s heart. We spent many years there as The Witches of Muckmire Marsh during the Thanksgiving Festival with incredible memories resulting. He would also return on Thanksgiving Day to enjoy the festival with his beloved Mother.

I have contacted someone at Ball’s Falls and expressed my interest. She let me know that the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation (NPCF), which is the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority’s sister charitable organization, administers the Memorial Bench Program, where donors are able to make a charitable donation to the NPCF for a memorial bench to be placed within a conservation area. She shared this link with me https://niagaraconservationfoundation.com/memorialprogram that provides information about the bench. The 2022 Memorial Bench program is currently open, and there are still locations available at Ball’s Falls for the placement of a new memorial bench. The cost of the bench program is $5,000 (including plaque, installation and HST). They receive orders up to the end of July annually, to allow for orders to be placed and shipped, with bench installation taking place in late fall. At the time of order confirmation, the NPCF collects a 10% deposit, with the final balance due two weeks prior to installation. Once an installation date has been set, donors are notified, and are invited to attend the final installation with their guests.

I would be happy to share any information that Ball’s Falls has shared with me in regards to the bench program, just contact me. If we can’t reach the amount required I welcome ideas for a memorial to Kevin that we could put the money towards.

I am hoping that people will feel the same as I do and want to donate. If uncomfortable with donating through this venue please contact me at [email redacted] and we will chat about another method :)

Thank you!