Owen Jones family donates memorial bench in his honour

Mayor Steve Ferguson and Picton councillor Phil St.-Jean flank Owen Jones’ three sisters Diane Splaine, Lee Cundy and Barbara Mowbray, who donated a memorial bench in his honour, in downtown Picton.

In honour of one of the community’s hardest-working citizen volunteers, the Picton BIA was pleased to be part of the placement of the Owen Jones memorial bench on Main Street Wednesday afternoon.

Jones, a life-long County resident, was ubiquitous in Picton helping to clear curbsides and gutters of debris, and in winter, removing snow from sidewalks in front of businesses. He died Dec. 25, 2021 at age 68.

Through a generous donation from his family, the bench was installed Wednesday in front of Williamson’s Insurance, as a year-round honour of Owen’s many years of keeping the town tidy.

“Picton misses Owen”, said BIA Manager Mark Rose. “Not a week goes by where his name doesn’t come up in conversation between merchants, shoppers or residents. The things he did for this town have not, and will not, be forgotten. He did what he could to keep Picton as clean and tidy as possible, even if that meant getting into the grimier details, like drains and curbside dirt buildup removal.”

Owen lived in Picton, but kept a low profile, turning away offers of assistance and gestures of gratitude.

“Owen Jones took pride in where he lived. He worked tirelessly to ensure that Picton looked good,” said Mayor Steve Ferguson. “The annual clean-up in his name, and now this memorial bench on Main Street are fitting tributes to a man who consistently gave back to his community.”