People in the Community
Joan Forsyth-Volunteer Extraordinaire

By Chuck Griffith

If there were a person in the community who was thought of as being synonymous with voluntary service that person would be Joan Forsyth.

Joan is a native of Scarborough and received her early education in that city. After graduation from Scarborough Collegiate she commenced employment with Bell Canada, a career that was to last almost thirty years. While employed with Bell she took night school courses at Harbord Collegiate, Danforth Tech and Centennial College.  Joan married her high school sweetheart Ken and the couple raised three children. She is now the proud grandmother of five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Unfortunately her late husband Ken, who like Joan was extremely active in the community passed away after a long illness in 2001.  Ken was a past president of the Apsley and District Lions Club.  Joan like Ken served as a Lion and eventually as president of the club. She is a strong supporter of the work done by the Lions membership in the community. Joan writes a report on the activities of the Lions Club for every issue of the Voice.

Searching for a place to settle down after retirement the couple was taken with the natural beauty of the North Kawartha area and purchased rural property in what was then Chandos Township. The area had been used as a retreat and also as a camping area for the scouts and guides from Pickering where Joan had served for over twenty years in a leadership role. She was familiar with the area having brought campers there on weekend and longer trips. In her work in Guiding she held all positions from Brownie Leader to District Commissioner. In addition to her youth work she taught first aid classes at Bell and for Scouts and Guides. Joan is interested in stained glass work, bunka embroidery and ceramics.

After thirty years with Bell Canada, in 1989, Joan and Ken retired to their property in North Kawartha. Both became quickly involved as volunteers. Both became active Lions. Joan became involved with the Glen Alda Seniors Club and through this organization became active in Community Care. She has been a volunteer with Community Care since that time and has taken a leadership role in many of their fund-raising and community activities. She has served as chair of the Advisory Group and for many years she convened the Meals for Wheels program, and  has been a volunteer with the Clothing Store. For ten years she was associated with the V.O.N. foot clinic.

About twelve years ago she challenged the Lakefield Herald to print more news about the Apsley area. She was promptly challenged to write a weekly column, a volunteer assignment, which she has completed each week and her column is well read by residents of North Kawartha and other Herald readers.

Joan continues to be extremely active in her community and there are very few community activities in which she is not involved. She is a member of the Cottage Country Computer Club and is currently serving as President of the Glen Alda Seniors Club.

It would be difficult to find a community organization that has not felt the benefit of Joan’s talents and hard work. If there were a “Ms. Volunteer” title for our community, then Joan would be on the top of the list for eligible recipients. Our whole community is richer for her presence and our debt to her grows each day!!!

Editors Note:  Joan is an amazing asset to North Kawartha and her contribution to the Apsley Voice is greatly appreciated..  Thanks Joan!