Thank you everyone for coming it is comforting for us to have you here and feel the support and love from all you here…as well as many that reached out that could not be here.

All of us here in someway, some shape or form has had our lives impacted by dad…..  maybe small, medium or Extra large… Dad, … Mel…or should I say as his mother Nana -  would say Melvyn

Truth be known, and sometimes us behind his back …. Melvyn…  

Oh yes Melvyn had made his impacts to each of our lives.

For me …it was and will always be Extra Extra Large….

Growing up dad always made sure we had every opportunity to try and find our passion…weather it was music, sports, outdoor pursuits and simple life skills

Music…  you want to play the what ?  …taking me to my weekly accordion lessons…and oh no that 12 button rental  accordion would never do ..I needed a full size , mother of pearl enlayed .  140 button , full size, with twice the base,  behemoth Accordion…then 3 weeks later give that up for more sports…

So then Mel switched over from music lesson chauffeur to be our coach for little league baseball team.  Even supplying  mum with nearly HOW MANY …100 ??  hot dogs to fuel our end of season team party / hot dog eating contest…

Seasons changed and then he got excited …a chance we followed in his footsteps playing Outdoor Hockey… just like Hank and him…did when they grew up …at the outdoor rink in Bayshore…well that only lasted 1 season of us complaining of frozen – I am sure nearly frostbitten feet…all of us players with out feet on the heating vent in ‘Shack’ …and Dad saying …you boys should consider yourself lucky …growing up we didn’t have fancy heated change shacks, fancy goal nets  and real vulcanized rubber pucks…We had to use frozen horse shi…droppings from the roads.

After realizing we needed a more delicate sport …that lead us to what better sport than competitive swimming ….Dad didn’t miss a beat …and was in ( even a couple of times actually in the pool)  He told me once that he never knew how to swim until after watching us….

And not just for transportation he joined the Swim team committee, attended clincis and became certified as a judge.

Then Swim-a-thon organizer and … Sponsor Collector extraordinaire … making sure each one of us kids had the chance to be #1 fund raiser for swimming 200 lengths of the pool. 

And he didn’t stop there …engaging our local MPP Walter Baker,  to get better swimming facilities and grants for Eastern Ontario Swimming.

Then there was the vacation and that had to be outdoors….let’s go camping …OK Golden Lake… well that was fun …but a little to close to nature for mum…well out for a Sunday drive …and the social media board  of the day ( Tourist Stand on Hwy 7 ) had a pamphlet for King’s Camp Cottage rentals…well this was a step up …and next year I’ll get the family a boat, and we’ll go fishing …

And OMG did Dad love to fish…(wait till you see the memory picture slide show, every second picture of Dad he is holding a stringer of fish !

And all Boaters get it …2 foot’itis. 

What would you kids say to a bigger boat…say that yellow boat over there….how fast did we say Yes… and once he showed us the ropes (sorry lines)  he would Nearly NEVER SAY NO to our constant calls on him:   

“ Dad can you take us water skiing,    Dad can you take us to the cliffs, Dad can I borrow the boat ( Well that one took a while before we heard yes)

Then Dad asked us …what if we buy our own family cottage …again we couldn’t say yes fast enough…. And how naive were we eh Shawn !!! 

 The cottage Dad bought was the understatement of Fixer, upper…no plumbing, no ceiling, no walls, no heat or any insulation at least no insulation still where it was supposed to be…

I like to think Dad was saying what a perfect opportunity to teach the boys and family some excellent life skills, however it was more probably got my 2 boys and their friends free labour in exchange for some cottage time.   Plus everything dad learned about cottaging, he learned from the best!  Norm King Owner of King’s Cottages and Camp who offered dad his Coffee tin of straighten out rusty nails... 

Well Dad guided us through the rehabilitation of the cottage that server us so well for over 20 years…and provided our family, extended family, expanding family and oh so many friends…sooo many good times, and memories…

Oh Life Skills we learned ….Shawn I mean do you remember insulating underneath the cottage…

Norm and Ken …wasn’t that a fun filled weekend shingling the roof, ( Norm afraid of heights and Ken only slightly less afraid because he was able to tie himself to the chimney, Shawn guess we can tell him now you Dad and I installed that Chimney…

And when Dad helped us with further life skills ( again likely he was just looking to save money by having use take down those huge Oak trees…I mean over 100 ft…Well I had my brand new chainsaw …Ken with his strike duty skills to save the telephone wires…and I forget who’s truck was it that we nearly catapulted across the road …to keep the tree from falling on the cottage.

As life move on for us kids…he didn’t sit idle…he started to volunteer in the lakes association …he found his niche  - Director in charge in charge of fisheries….and rallied so many volunteers… usually the first call… (Hi Randy, you coming up to the cottage next weekend can you bring the trailer ? ) …

He had a way to rally and lead the teams of volunteers and working with ministry agencies for grants and resources to re-establish Pickerel and Lake trout spawning grounds.  He continued his volunteering efforts, monitoring lake water quality and fish migration patterns, earning not only the respect of local fishers, and camp owners, but also Volunteer of the year from the townships, and Ministry of Ontario recognition as a steward of Crow and Bobs lake.  

NOW TO BE HONEST…I honestly think dad was just feeling guilty and wanted to replenish all of the fish he caught over the years…( wait till you seen the slide show in the reception hall ! :) )

So, you might say, Hey Randy, Those are great stories…so what your point… thought this was to be about your Dad….well…

I want you all to know …that my Dad, despite the number of ‘Melvyn stories I may have share with many of you over the years …Well I believe  he is a great part of why I am the person I am today….he gave me opportunities to improve and challenge myself through my childhood years.  Gave us as a family Great vacations and memories,  and opened his door to all of our friends, in order that we all had so many great weekends, vacations, adventures, and not to mention some pretty great parties ( Festival of Joy ) (only a few mentioned above.). 

 Taught me how to be handy and not afraid to tackle any job around the house, a motor or machine.

 And most importantly he taught me, through example how to help others and understand the hidden rewards of giving the most valuable commodity we have …TIME.

And speaking of time mine is up and in closing I will simply quote my dad ….  

 ‘Oh Boy’……   and in summary of his life well…I know what he would say….

“That’s Fantastic”