Even though I’m 76 years old today, I look back on my childhood like it was yesterday. My earliest memories were of living with my family near the corner of Pharmacy and Danforth in east Toronto. I recall all the pavement and concrete there – and so little green anywhere. In fact, the school in our neighbourhood had an asphalt baseball diamond!
But then when I was nine, my family moved to Willowdale, near Sheppard and Yonge. Back in the 1950s, it was still mainly farmland. There were forests and streams to explore – and grass everywhere. I was in heaven! It was in those years that I learned how important the outdoors is to kids.Â
As I got older, I started donating to Scott Mission. I was particularly enthused about their summer camp program for disadvantaged kids.Â