O’Grady honoured for dedicated environmental service

Dennis O’Grady still has a couple of months yet before his official retirement as general manager for the South Nation Conservation Authority. That did not prevent the board of directors and others from offering him early honours during the agency’s recent annual general meeting.

“You have been a great asset to the authority,” said Doug Thompson, chairman for the South Nation Conservation Authority (SNC) during his opening remarks prior to the start of the official agenda.

Denis Perrault, a former SNC chairman, provided historical context to O’Grady’s time with the SNC, both as general manager and during his earlier years with the agency in various other posts.

“I can still remember the first time that I met Dennis,” Perrault said, adding that he mistook O’Grady for a student worker then, not realizing the other was SNC’s youthful general manager.

Perrault noted that one of O’Grady’s great strengths over the years as a general manager is his ability to make sure that all members of the SNC board are aware and up-to-date on what SNC staff are working on and the projects and programs that the agency is involved in or trying to set up.

Perreault also observed O’Grady has demonstrated great respect and openness Dennis O’Grady (au centre) se retire plus tard cette année en tant que directeur général de la South Nation Conservation Authority, mais il a reçu un premier honneur lors de l’assemblée générale annuelle de l’agence pour ses années de service dédié à l’environnement local. O’Grady et Angela Coleman (à gauche), son remplaçant comme directeur général, Doug Thompson, ancien président de SNC, Denis Perrault, ancien président de SNC, et François St-Amour, président de SNC pour 2017, posent pour une photo de groupe à la fin de la réunion. in dealing with the municipal members of the SNC region on the concerns of their communities.

“Thank you very much from the whole of the watershed,” Perrault said. “He (O’Grady) cares so much for the watershed.”

A formal celebration event for O’Grady’s official retirement day is planned for later in May at the SNC office in Finch.