Tundra swans gone as quick as they came: McDonald

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call

887-6570

They were here and now they are gone. The week of March 20, there were hundreds of tundra swans to be seen. In my cross-township driving, field after field would have small, medium and large flocks. This past week, only the very odd swan was spotted. They have carried on with their journey to the north for the summer.

The month of March went out like a lamb I think and now we can concentrate on spring! The snow has mostly disappeared and I can see the signs of spring in my flower beds. Daffodil and tulip bulbs have sprouted from the ground with the sun. An unexpected sign of spring was a motorcycle on the road on Sunday.

We hope everyone has an enjoyable Easter with family with Easter egg hunts, Easter baskets and food, food and more food. Enjoy!

It has been a week of sadness for many local families this past week. Our sympathies are extended to the Finlayson family on the passing of 90-year-old Laird Finlayson. He was the husband of the late Ruby and the father of four daughters, who are deeply saddened. They are Sharon Carnochan and Brian, Susan and Ed Van Miltenburg, Sandra and Doug Dietz and Shelley and Brian McGavin. He was loved by 16 grandchildren and 30 greatgrandchildren. He was a devoted family man and will be missed by all who knew him. Our condolences to the Finlayson family.

Our sympathies are extended to Mabel Glanville on the passing of her brother Grant Westlake of Exeter. He will be missed by his three children and his nine siblings. Grant was a very nice man and a hard worker who loved to dance. Our condolences to the Westlake families.

Our sympathies are extended to a former Walton family on the passing of Jim Clark. Jim was the son of Bruce and Pam Clark. He will be missed by his three sons: Taylor, Jackson and Remington. He will also be lovingly missed by his parents Pam (Kevin) and Bruce and his brother Greg. Jim had been battling heart disease for a number of years. Jim loved to be outdoors and he loved sports, including baseball, broomball, hockey, fishing and hunting. He began his adult life working for the Ministry of Natural Resources fighting forest fires near Sioux Lookout. He decided to make a career change and became a police officer in Kasabonika and then at Lac Seul Police service and Kenora. He eventually joined the OPP in Kenora. Our condolences to the Clark family on their loss.

The month of April birthdays starts with “April Fool’s” babies including my old friend Lily Fincham, who turned 97! Matt Lee is also an April Fool’s baby. They are followed by Peter Bennett, Susan Yan Yu-Watson, Carbin McCallum, Krista Shortreed Verkley, Gary Bennett, Nate Fritz, David Baan, Marlene Glanville, Colleen McCallum Bromley, Savannah Bowers, McKinley Janmaat, Donna Hannon, Stephen Gulutzen, Shelley McGavin, Doug J. Mitchell, Janet Mitchell, Wayne Regele and Myer Braecker. Happy birthday to all.

An annual visit

As noted by Walton correspondent Jo-Ann McDonald above, the tundra swans were here and now they’ve gone. Recently, Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot, the editor of The Rural Voice, captured this picture of some tundra swans near Carlow. (Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot photo)