The late Ron Simpson’s beloved Model A Ford sat near the park entrance off Crossland Boulevard in Bradford West Gwillimbury on Saturday.
Simpson drove the car in the Bradford Santa Claus Parade, and at other special events during his nearly 30 years on town council.
For family members, friends and former colleagues, it was an evocative reminder of the man, at the special dedication ceremony renaming Dreamfields Park at 251 Crossland Blvd. as Ron Simpson Memorial Park.
“It’s great to see the turnout – family, friends, everyone who was touched by Ron Simpson,” said Mayor Rob Keffer. He noted that with the renaming, Simpson will be “a name that will last forever in our town.”
Among those present were Simpson’s wife Joan, daughter Jodi, and granddaughter Elizabeth.
“The family is very honoured,” said Jodi. “Dad loved Bradford. He lived here all his life… The coffee shop was his favourite hangout.”
A builder by trade, Simpson was also a community-builder. Keffer noted Coun. Simpson used his knowledge of the construction industry to benefit the town, sitting as chair of the Facilities Committee when the new BWG Public Library and BWG Leisure Centre were built.
He was also the town’s representative at the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, and he oversaw construction of the John L. Jose Learning Centre at the Tiffin Centre for Conservation.
“He was able to bring his knowledge to what was happening,” said Keffer.
Simpson was first elected to West Gwillimbury council in 1985. Also elected that year for a first term was Coun. Gary Lamb.
“But I knew him before. I knew him from the curling club,” Lamb said. “He was a very good-hearted man. I miss him greatly.”
Lamb shared memories of Ron Simpson’s Supertest collection, his willingness to help others, and his extensive document files.
“He was a collector – a collector of information, and a collector of friends.”
Fellow-councillor Peter Dykie Jr. said Simpson was his “first mentor… He gave me the history of the community.”
Dykie called Simpson “a hard worker, very much the detail(-oriented). He always had an eye on the tax dollar… Ron would be so proud of this park. Because of great people like Ron, we mold the community, to move forward.”
The park includes a playground, splashpad, basketball court, two soccer fields, and trails that connect neighbouring subdivisions to the green space. It lies north of Line 8, not far from Simpson’s Line 9 home, and in Ward 5 – the area that he represented from 1985 until his death in 2014, at the age of 69.
Also present was former Mayor Doug White, who served on council with Simpson for 11 of those years.
“He was the first who took me for coffee, and said, ‘I followed your campaign. I think we’ll do well on council together.’ I’ve never forgotten that,” said White.
Simpson, he said, was always straightforward, willing to “look you in the eye, and tell you what he thought. That is the recipe for 30 years.”
In addition to his years on council, Ron Simpson was a member of a local car club, the Bradford Lions Club and the Probus Club of Bradford. When he lost his fight with cancer in 2014, still serving on council, his Ward 5 seat was filled for the remaining months of his term by daughter Jodi.
