PROVIDENCE BAY—When Mary White says shyly that she hasn’t “done much” in terms of volunteering in the community, take the statement with a grain of salt. A definite understatement.
“Organizations don’t keep growing without volunteers,” stated Ms. White, who lives with her husband John on a farm between Providence Bay-Spring Bay. “The biggest part of my volunteering efforts has been with the Providence Bay Community Centre Board (PBCCB). I have been a member for over 40 years, was a director for a while, and was fortunate to be named as a lifetime member. In my time helping with the board I have been secretary-treasurer two different terms.”
“Being a member of the PBCCB means you are also involved in the Providence Bay Agricultural Society Fair Board,” said Ms. White. “I first started volunteering with the fair board when I was younger. More than 40 years ago, my father-in-law Trevor White, at that time was in charge of roots/vegetables display at the fair exhibit hall. I graduated from there to other sections of the fair exhibit display. I think I have been involved in all the different categories of items that are displayed in the exhibit hall, except for the quilt display.”
Ms. White has also volunteered with the Campbell Horticultural Society. “I was treasurer of the group for at least six years,” she said. “A lot of my volunteer positions have been on the financial end.”
“As a member of the horticultural society as a director I had to plan the annual flower show for one term. The responsibilities for this include selecting a theme for the show,” said Ms. White.
While she has always supported the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary in all its efforts and activities, Ms. White said she has never been a member of the auxiliary.
“The United Church in Providence Bay was also something I volunteered for, until the church closed,” continued Ms. White. “I was the treasurer for the church (board) as well, being the head of the finance committee in pastoral charge. Even now I am the chair of the finance committee for the church, at least up until we closed Trinity Manitoulin United Church in Mindemoya.” Over the years she has volunteered on several church committees.
“Those are many of the kind of volunteer things I have participated in over the years,” said Ms. White.
“I have also helped with the Central Manitoulin Public School School Fair a few times,” said Ms. White. “One year when Tracy Chapman was the principal at the school, she decided that the students should learn how to quilt. My granddaughter, Jary White, who was a student in elementary school at the time put her hand out and volunteered me right away to help the students learn how to quilt. It was very interesting and I enjoyed that.”
“I have been a judge at several of the school fairs,” said Ms. White. She has also volunteered with the seniors’ club in Providence Bay over the years.”
Ms. White and her husband have three children, Jack who is the president of the Providence Bay Agricultural Fair Society, their youngest Michael who is a local plumber, and the couple’s daughter, Jean who lives in Espanola.
“I attended the annual Ontario Agricultural Society convention a couple of times over the years, you learn a lot of things at that event,” said Ms. White.
“Community organizations wouldn’t keep growing and continuing without volunteers,” said Ms. White. “We are very fortunate in the agricultural fair society that we have several young people coming along who are doing a great job of helping and supporting the fair.”
“That’s about all the volunteering I’ve done over the years, not much,” said Ms. White. “I need to give my husband John a lot of credit; he has had to put up with so much with my volunteering activities.”
