Honour Jim Steel with a Memorial Bench

****UPDATE FEBRUARY 22, 2023****

We have incredible news to share with you!

Your donations (both online and in-person) in honour of Jim Steel have acquired a commemorative bench at the end of Sunset (Municipal) Beach. Additionally, due to the overwhelming interest in this small gesture to honour Jim’s life, we found out today that we will ALSO be able to fund a memorial picnic table at Charles Daley Park.

We invite you to visit these locations, enjoy a cup of coffee and a few Timbits, watch some dogs play, and take a moment to reflect on the incredible man that Jim was. Who knows, you might even strike up a conversation and share a laugh with a passerby, just as he would have done.

We will post news when the structures are put in place this spring and hope to see you at a little gathering as we open them.

****UPDATE February 11, 2023 (see the bottom)*****

Jim Steel was a beloved member of our community, known for his kindness, humour, wisdom, integrity, social action, zest for life... and of course his bulldogs. He lived large, loved to laugh, and he had one of the biggest hearts of anyone we knew. Jim was a friend to all, always stopping to chat, listen, and share a smile. He touched the lives of so many of us. To honour his memory, we are raising funds to establish a memorial bench in his honour.

The funds indicated will be donated to the City to build a cement pad, install a bench, create a customized plaque, and care for the structure for the next 10 years. The seat will be placed at a spot that Jim loved, near the water where he can watch his ships, and where everyone can sit, rest, and enjoy the view.

We want to create a space where people can come together, remember Jim, and celebrate his life. It will serve as a symbol of his kindness and a reminder of the impact he had on each of us. We invite Jim's large community of friends to contribute to the memorial with any amount they feel comfortable with. Together we will honour his memory and create a special place for everyone to enjoy.

We will keep you updated on the progress and invite you to attend an opening ceremony this spring. - from the JS Memorial Committee (Diane, Don, Julie and Kate on behalf of Jim's large community of friends)

****UPDATE****

It has been so touching to watch the outpouring of love and appreciation for Jim. With $2900 enough funds have been gathered for a bench to be established at the end of Municipal Beach. He will be able to watch the people, dogs, and ships go by from this location. Many friends remember walking there with Jim, he also had fond memories of climbing the sand piles near there in his youth. Thank you.

With this overwhelming response in less than one day, it has been decided to keep this platform open as many people are just hearing about it and indicating they would still like to join Jim’s community of friends and contribute.

Depending on how much additional funds are raised we will direct the money to a memorial tree ($850) or an easily accessible memorial picnic table ($2900) at Charles Daly Park where Jim would often walk Joe in the summer. Any remaining funds will be split between the Canadian Legion and the Humane Society in Jim’s name.