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The constant
Jim Dunlop on opening day of the Wellington and District Community Centre.
Jim Dunlop was wearing many hats in December 2010. He still worked part time at the cement plant as a safety officer. He had recently been re-elected as councillor to represent Wellington. And he was working hard to see that a magnificent new arena was built in the village. On this particular December day, however, Jim was wearing a Santa hat and suit in the Christmas parade through the village.
Fundraising for the new facility had been going extremely well, largely due to Jim’s persistence and persuasiveness. But he and his team were still about $65,000 short of their $1.5 million goal to be raised in the community. It was a lot of money. Yet slowly and bitby- bit over the previous months, they had collected pledges and cheques for the bulk of it. A year-end deadline was looming, however. For weeks, Jim had been talking with a builder who had invested in land and planning approvals around Wellington.
On this Saturday morning, I stood with my children watching the parade pass. As his sleigh approached, Santa stood up to speak to us directly. My kids’ eyes lit up.
“Kaitlin is in for $50,000,” said Santa. I was at a loss for words. Finally, I yelled back, “Congratulations, Jim.”
My kids, indeed all the kids within earshot, were now looking at me. “Jim? Santa’s name is Jim?”
A few days later, the brand new Wellington and District Community Centre opened. There was ceremony fitting of the occasion and fine speeches. All the while, Jim stood off to the side, taking it all in. Listening more than talking. That’s what he does.
It was glorious moment. I will remember it always.
Five years later, the facility continues to be admired, and envied, by visitors and used by thousands of County residents—playing hockey, figure skating, attending a wedding or walking around the County on the track that surrounds the ice surface. It is a worthy symbol of the pride in this community and its people.
It is unfair and inaccurate to say this building was the creation of one man—many folks played important and critical roles in its development, from idea to realization. Yet Jim was the constant. He worked closely with the consultants tasked with determining the viability of the old Dukedome. The prognosis was bad. It required a truckload of money to bring it up to current standards and that investment would likely only extend its life a few years.
There were meetings, studies and reports. Jim patiently sat through every session, gently guiding the process, the community, council—as well as provincial and federal politicians—forward.
A plan for a new arena and community centre eventually emerged. Funding applications were prepared and submitted. The facility would cost $12 million. The federal and provincial governments each agreed to contribute a third of the cost. The municipality was on the hook for the remaining third—$2.5 million from the general tax base and $1.5 million from fundraising.
It was a big nut—perhaps impossible. Yet Jim raised his hand. He would lead the fundraising team—joined ably by folks including Nancy Baldwin, Nancy Parks, Dennis Carnrike, Pierre Lebrun and Doug Robinson.
He was fearless. Even if it took years, he would persist and the money would be found.
Day after day, he drew up lists, made calls and went door to door. He stopped by the County’s Community Services office most mornings to ensure that a form was filled out, that a letter was sent or a contributor had been recognized. It was his name and reputation at stake.
Before the end of 2010, Jim and his team had met their goal. In fact, they overshot the mark,raising a cool $1.52 million.
If his quest was ever in doubt, Jim never showed it. He was always quietly optimistic, even when he had no reason to be. It is a quality that has defined his career and community involvement.
It has now been 40 years since he led a group of Wellington kids to several Ontario championships and the unforgettable opportunity to participate in a tournament in Switzerland.
In 2006, when a food processing company launched a competition offering $100,000 in arena upgrades for the community that best exemplified the game of hockey—Jim saw an opportunity. He gathered a team of volunteers and produced a compelling bid on behalf of Wellington. It wasn’t to be.
That exercise, however, first revealed to me the deep and all-consuming passion Jim has for his community. It is not something he wears on his sleeve. It is something you sense only when you spend time with him— talking about the village, the County and his community.
I see it in his role as council member. He answers phone calls and emails. He listens to the worries and frustrations of his constituents, championing Wellington’s issues around the council table. He doesn’t pound his desk or insist his voice be the loudest. He speaks only when he has something to say.
We don’t always agree. He doesn’t insist on that. His convictions don’t drift and sway with popular opinion. If you are interested, however, he will always explain how and why he has arrived at his position.
Five years after the doors opened to the Wellington and District Community Centre, it remains a majestic and proud achievement. Even now, when I walk through those doors, I think of Jim. Then I see him in the lobby. I’m not sure I say thank you enough.
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