 Longtime Lennoxville resident Marina
Tracy received a moving tribute from
local Sparks, Brownies and Guides
June 9, to celebrate her remarkable 50-year
history with the Guiding movement. Earlier
this year, Tracy was presented
Lennoxville’s Donald Patrick award for her
outstanding contribution and exceptional
devotion to the hundreds of girls she has influenced
over the past half century through
the Girl Guides.
“She has provided empowering experiences
at a formative time in girls’ lives,”
said District Commissioner Sue Stuart. “The girls then apply these enhanced qualities
when interacting with friends, family
and neighbours. Such selfless provision
over five decades has definitely influenced
many, many lives.”
Each of the young Sparks, Brownies and
Guides presented Tracy with a bouquet of
flowers, representing their troop colours,
which in true Tracy style, she passed on to
her many neighbours and friends. A celebratory
cake, made by Guide leader Barbara
Rivett was shared following
presentation of a handmade quilt that highlighted
milestones in the Guide leader’s life – the birth of her children, weddings and
anniversaries.
Deeply moved by the tribute, Tracy said
working with the girls has been a rewarding
experience and she enjoyed every moment
of it.
It was a love she shared with husband
Richard who worked side by side with her
in the Boy Scout movement. Son Richard
noted his parents spent their honeymoon at
Boy Scout camp, and every wedding anniversary
since.
The music plays on at PEES
 Earlier this month, the names of
28 Princess Elementary students
from Grades 1-6 were selected
randomly to be awarded music
scholarships of $700 to pursue private
lessons. “The only stipulation is
that the lessons are provided by a
qualified teacher,” said Harvey
Catchpaw. Cheques are written by
the foundation to the teacher.
Since the scholarships began in 1985,
hundreds of students from the school have
benefited from the music scholarships provided
through the James E. Conners’ Foundation.
That year, Vivian Bice, a retired teacher,
made an initial donation in memory of her
father, who was a school commissioner,
and asked Harvey and Rachel Catchpaw to
start a foundation. As a result of those early
fundraising efforts, the first of hundreds of
students were offered a scholarship in 1985
to pursue private music lessons.
The Catchpaws decided to name the
foundation after James E. Conners, a former
school commissioner and Dominion
Textile executive who was a dauntless supporter
of youth initiatives. Support came
from another Dominion Textile manager,
former school commissioner and local philanthropist,
Harry Milne and his wife
Kathleen who generously supported the
foundation.
Foundation member Charles Catchpaugh,
still an active musician and bandleader
at 80, has been a supporter of music
in the school for nearly half a century.
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