Friends of Point Pelee celebrating 40 years

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — The Friends of Point Pelee group is celebrating 40 years in 2021, and although they won’t be able to have the type of celebration they wanted to, it’s an accomplishment the local group is very proud of.

Established in 1981, the Friends of Point Pelee formed to act as a support for Parks Canada and work in collaboration with them, committed to protecting the natural features of Canada’s most southerly spit of land. It was one of the first not-for-profit groups formed to assist a National Park in Canada.

Current President Laurie Hart’s Point Pelee roots go back to the 1940s. Her family once had a cabin inside the park — near Northwest Beach — and for many years, has owned property just outside the park along the narrows of Point Pelee Drive.

She and her husband, Dave, have now retired and want to give back to the park they’ve come to know as their second home.

Since retirement, they decided to pull up their roots in LaSalle and move to their Pelee property full time in recent years.

The Friends of Point Pelee usually run the food service for the annual Festival of Birds, but for the second year in a row, the Festival has been cancelled due to COVID-19.

“Last year, the park was closed right down at that time,” said Laurie. “This year, the park will be open, but we won’t be setting up any food service.”

Dave and Laurie Hart pose near the canoe rentals at Marsh Boardwalk on Saturday, March 13.

The food service is the group’s largest annual fundraiser, so they’ve been very careful with their spending.

Last year, they purchased a boat called the Marsh Skimmer for park employees to use when traveling through the marsh. This year’s purchase will be a ‘Marsh Muncher’, which will help park employees clear up some of the vegetation that overtakes the marsh waters.

They will still run the canoe rentals, as they always do — at least what is permitted under health regulations.

The Cattail Café at the Marsh Boardwalk and Nature Nook store at the Visitors Centre are currently closed and will remain with very limited access until COVID restrictions will allow.

Numerous other projects are always on the go.

Meanwhile, the meetings of members still go on, with the group always planning to help in any way they can.

“We can have Zoom meetings and will occasionally meet outside when we are able to social distance,” said Laurie. “It’s a challenge, but we’ll take it as it comes.”

Their Annual General Meeting is coming up and they are anxious to welcome a handful of new board members.

“It’s always nice to have new viewpoints and opinions,” said Laurie.

For the Harts, they are happy to be so close to what they consider a national treasure.

“My mom was a member of Friends of Point Pelee for many years,” she said. “So it’s nice to give back and help visitors see what we see on a daily basis.”

If you’d like to volunteer with the Friends of Point Pelee, reach out on their website at www.friendsofpointpelee.com.