Civic recognition honours Jim Dunlop’s service to County and community

Mayor Steve Ferguson presented former warden and councillor Jim Dunlop  with a Civic Recognition Certificate Tuesday night honouring Dunlop’s unwavering commitment and outstanding contributions to community and County. He is shown with former players in attendance who he had coached some 50 years ago.

Honouring a lifetime of service to County and community, Jim Dunlop, of Wellington, was presented a Civic Recognition Certificate at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

Dunlop was the final warden of Prince Edward County in 1997, before amalgamation, and a three term councillor representing Wellington.

Throughout his lifetime in the County, he has also been active in coaching children’s soccer and hockey, in fundraisers for causes including the Back the Build campaign to build a new hospital and the $1.5 million campaign to build Wellington’s arena.

Family, friends, current and former councillors witnessed the honour along with a large group of players he coached some 50 years ago. He coached hockey and soccer in Picton leading Peewee, Bantam and Midget teams to championships.

Bob Snider, a former team captain coached by Dunlop, was one of the group who nominated him for the award. He explained how Dunlop’s “winning pedigree” led them to championships through the years and eventually to play in an international exhibition series in Switzerland in 1976 where they won four games to two.

“Jim was a staunch supporter and ambassador of everything Wellington and Prince Edward County,” Snider said. “He was always a winner.”

Mayor Steve Ferguson presented the Civic Recognition Certificate and spoke of Dunlop’s legacy as one of compassion, service, leadership and unwavering dedication to Prince Edward County.

Ferguson noted Dunlop was “always prioritizing the needs of the people” and mentored him and several other councillors when Ferguson was first elected as a councillor in 2014.

“You certainly deserve the nickname you’ve been given, which is ‘the Senator’,” Ferguson added.

Dunlop was honoured by the recognition.

“Usually a handshake or a thank you is enough for me,” he smiled. “I had Mary who had my back. 56 years we’ve been married. She is here tonight and my daughter Krista. My other daughter Trish is in Newmarket.”

He addressed the group of former players in attendance who he had coached.

“They are all in their 60s now but were all 12 years old when they started. The beauty of it is they have been friends for 50 years. It’s amazing what sport can do. They’ve contributed to the County as well.”