Tribute to Gord Leonard by Anne Ritchie-Nahuis

The following tribute was delivered by Anne Ritchie-Nahuis at the Township of Tiny Golf Tournament and Dinner in honour of Gord Leonard & the Story of Site 41 on August 23 2013
Hello my friends, it has been a while – so glad to see you all. As Danny Beaton would say – Today has been a beautiful day.
It always is a wonderful time of friendship when we get to see each other again, breaking bread together as we often did at Site 41 is always a pleasure.  (What a wonderful meal we have had here tonight.)
This evening I would like to speak to you briefly about the Site 41 property and about Gord Leonard the much beloved friend whom we lost to soon.
The final property has been sold by the County of Simcoe.

Prior to selling Site 41 the County placed an easement through the Ontario Farmland Trust. The terms are many pages long, however mostly can be explained by saying that only farm or farm-related activities are possible on the property. The County of Simcoe has also assured those bidding that the wells have been properly decommissioned to prevent contamination of the aquifer.
I must compliment the County of Simcoe as this easement may be the only reason this property was not swallowed up by a commercial or industrial development. Possibly putting forward the same garbage plan that had been approved by the province before. This could only be achieved by all of us coming together. Thank you so much for all of your persistence to ensure we finished this project.
At Gate 1 – or what the farming community calls the Johnston farm – is where most of the construction occurred. It  is approximately 85 acres, 30 of which received no damage.  It went up on the County of Simcoe website for tender early this spring.  My husband John’s twin brother Tony was the successful bidder. He has recently sold his milking herd due to wear and tear on his knees. With his now available time, he hopes to restore Site 41 as best he can. How much time it will take is an unknown factor.  Planning has just begun. But hopefully in the future there will be no berms to obstruct or hide the Site 41 property any more.
It has been peaceful time in the countryside. Yet it is still amazing how many people travel down the 2nd Concession of Tiny – to reminisce, take their picture with the Shoulder to Shoulder sign, or for quiet reflection on the wonderful events that took place at this sacred place in 2009. Many stop to remember the Annishnabe Kweag who took us on a wonderful journey and created a wonderful community. They led us to a victory we only dreamed about.
Next year will be the 5th anniversary of Site 41 and there is a team emerging that wish to work on this event. Please speak with Rev. David Black or Don Morgan as you are welcome to join in this endeavor. They are meeting Wednesday Sept 4th at the wonderful Ebenezer church at 7:30pm.
All of us have a first moment of when we first became involved with site 41. In Feb of 2003 I went to a public meeting regarding the dumpsite and became aware of what misfortune lie ahead for our community. In fact the engineer was describing the very complicated problems that may arise. Gord and Stephen Ogden were able to clarify and make understood the many risks involved. So I asked for their help. I became I am sure a bit of pain in the neck to the Leonards.  I would show up unannounced asking for more information or with many questions. Gord, Bev and Darrell & Steve were all patient teachers.
I learned a lot from Gord and Bev. They became to me like a favorite uncle and aunt, friends you could always count on and they put up with me. I spent many an hour at their kitchen table. Often accompanied by the Ogdens and the Duttons.
Even though Gord and his family were very busy with his nursery business, you could always call upon him when needed and he always made time for family, friends or Site 41 supporters and even the naysayers. His many brothers supported him and when witnessing Gord’s father Milt Leonard challenging the Warden of Simcoe County, I knew the Leonards were a force to be reckoned with and they were on the side of right.
Much is to be learned from Gord in how he personally dealt with the County. He was always polite, honest and forthright. He researched the issue, understood the process and participated in a respectful manner. He kept his ear to the ground and watched the politicians like a hawk with a team of individuals all over the county who kept him up to date. And MOST importantly he Never, Ever listened when people said: It’s a done deal. You can’t do anything about it. He always soldiered on.
The endless fundraising, photocopying, the hydrogeology reports, the filing, the calling in of favors, attending meetings, the phone calls. It was all a bit much.  But Bev and Gord persisted and they did it together.
I often wondered how Gord kept his sanity but when you seen Gord and Bev at the arena or ball diamond you seen them totally relaxed. Bev and Gord loved their grandsons Tyler and Justin and when seeing Gord the conversation always eventually evolved to how Kim and Darrell and the boys were doing – with baseball, hockey, or their farming careers – market garden, growing extraordinary large vegetables, or more recently chickens. Prouder grandparents would be hard to find!
When Gord and Bev started to battle cancer – yes I say they both fought cancer, because even though the war was waged within Gord, Bev was there, soldiering on with him all the way as she always had.  Just as she had with Site 41.
When you added their daughter-in-law Kim’s illness to the picture you understood the strength within this family. Darrell and Kim worked  together to overcome the many obstacles. It was with great sadness that we heard of Kim’s passing. Kim too was very much a part of the Site 41 story. Always present and supportive with Darrell and her sons, she was so intelligent and boy, could she write!
Gord, you were so influential in our lives and our community, you are still here with us – what a legacy – we look around we see the trees you planted in our yards and in the parks, the Wyebridge community Centre you helped to build and the wonderful grandchildren you helped to raise. We admire how you protected the farmland and the water. And now the quiet room where families who have that very traumatic news will be able to have the privacy they deserve in the Gord Leonard Quiet Room at the Georgian Bay General Hospital.
We all miss you Gord and appreciate everything you taught us and we know we still have lessons to learn from you and your faithful service to our community.
Thank you
Migwetch