Gananoque council ponders options to honour Charlie Donevan

Gananoque council is considering all options when it comes to how the town will honour and recognize Charlie Donevan, who died earlier this month at the age of 99.

Donevan, a mainstay in the community, and who ran Donevan’s Hardware store for many years, was often referred to as "Mr. Gananoque." His 100th birthday would have been on July 31.

A celebration of life ceremony was held for Donevan at Grace United Church on Saturday.

With that now completed, council is looking into how to honour him.

“The motion put forward isn’t for a holiday but that the day would be named after him,” said Mayor John Beddows.

A decision on the matter was postponed at the May 21 council meeting, for an in-camera discussion at the next council meeting, which is scheduled for June 4.

“At that point, council will express its will,” said Beddows.

“What we’re essentially trying to do is finding an appropriate way to perpetuate the memory of a man who meant a great deal to this community, and to show him the respect that he would never ask for, but which he has earned, and so there’s a lot of different ways to do that.”

Staff is expected to come back to council with a report on the mechanism with which to accomplish such a goal.

“We’ll see that report at the next meeting,” said Beddows. “Council will try to find the best way forward to ensure that Mr. Donevan’s memory is perpetuated. Council is deeply appreciative of everything Mr. Donevan did for our community.”

Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

Keith Dempsey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brockville Recorder and Times