By KATHRYN FRASER

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On September 20, members of the community gathered at the Caledon Seniors Centre to celebrate the 90th birthday of Richard Hunt. 

Hunt and his family have been in the Caledon area since the early 1970s and Hunt is a long-standing volunteer and advocate who has made many significant contributions to the community. 

Hunt's care for not only the community but for nature fueled his drive to contribute and be an active volunteer. He helped to raise more than $400,000 in funding and donations which led to the addition of 5,000 trees, shrubs, restored wetlands and fishways in areas such as Dick's Dam Park, North Hill Park, Bolton Mill Park and many others.

Other accomplishments include founding and chairing the Bolton North Hill Residents Association, coaching youth sports, and he was an active member of the Bolton and District Horticultural Society where he made several environmental contributions, such as planting trees in various parks. 

Hunt has also received a number of awards, including the Volunteer and Citizen Achievement Awards in 2007 and 2012 as well as being the recipient of the Community Recognition Award in the Environmental Leadership category in 2017. He was also named a Paul Harris Fellow for The Rotary Foundation. 

In addition to being a strong volunteer and member of the community, Hunt also raised a family in Caledon with his wife Ruth, who all gathered to celebrate Hunt for not only for his hard work but to celebrate him and his remarkable milestone.

The event was filled with many friends and family members, all there to celebrate Hunt on his big day. 

During the celebration, Hunt received a special presentation from his eldest son, and a special toast from his friend of over 50 years, Colin. 

“Looking back over our more than 50 years of friendship, Sydney, and I feel very fortunate to have shared so many of those memories with you and Ruth. We look forward to welcoming you and Ruth on your next visit…and to continue this friendship for many, many years to come,” said Colin. “Richard, on your 90th birthday, here is to you – to a life well lived, to the community you've enriched, to the trees you planted, to Rotary and the many friends you brought together, and to the many people whose lives you made a little richer.” 

Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones also attended the event and presented Hunt with special scrolls from the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Premier Ford, and herself to acknowledge Hunt turning 90. 

Back in 2018, the Town of Caledon renamed the Kingsview Park to be the Ruth and Richard Hunt Park in honour of Hunt and his wife for their longstanding work and serving the Bolton community for more than 50 years. 

On September 13, the Town unveiled a special bench in Ruth and Richard Hunt Park to commemorate Hunt's 90th birthday. 

Councillors Mario Russo, Cosimo Napoli and Tony Rosa were all in attendance at the bench naming and Russo offered a speech in recognition of Hunt. 

During his speech, Russo spoke about Hunt's decades of service and life lived with “purpose, heart and undeniable passion,” and referred to Hunt by a nickname he has been given around Bolton: “Tree Hugger Hunt.”

“When you look across Bolton today, you are walking through his living legacy. Through the Bolton North Hill Residents Association and the Bolton Horticultural Society, he had the foresight to look at developer lands and say: this belongs to the people,” said Russo. “He championed the Town's purchase of vital spaces-from the east side of Humberlea Road, to North Hill Park, Generations Park, and the parkland that so proudly bears his and Ruth's names today: the Ruth and Richard Hunt Park. He even stepped forward to reach out to the TRCA (Toronto & Region Conservation Authority) to help secure Bolton Camp as protected land for everyone.”