JOHN MUIR BRANCH
‘Perfect honour for my dad’
John Muir’s heart and soul throughout his lifetime were often invested in Olde Sandwich Towne.
Now Muir — who passed away at the age of 75 last Wednesday — will have his name fittingly linked to a new Windsor Public Library branch in the heart of the west-end community.
“This is the perfect honour for my dad,” said his son, Allan Muir following a ceremony on Sunday.
“He was an avid user and supporter of the public library system. He was also a tireless advocate for the people, history and culture in Sandwich, so to be honoured this way couldn’t be more fitting.”
The John Muir Branch is to be located inside a shuttered firehall on Mill Street that dates back to 1921, but the building will soon be the subject of an upcoming $2.5-million renovation project to accommodate the new west-end library.
The new 3,800-square-foot library branch is scheduled to be completed and open by April 2018.
Muir was a longtime vice-principal and principal at nearby General Brock Public School, a lead organizer for the annual Sandwich Towne Festival, fundraising champion for children’s activities in the community, member of the Mackenzie Hall committee and a leader to establish the Sandwich Health Centre.
He most recently worked endlessly to secure funding and plans to create a sculpture of General Brock and Chief Tecumseh which is currently being constructed. It is poised to be unveiled in Sandwich Towne in September 2017 as part of Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations.
Muir was also instrumental in opening the current library branch inside Brock school in the 1990s, which will soon move to its new location around the corner on Mill Street.
“We grew up in South Windsor and I remember as kids how we rode our bikes to the Budimer (library branch),” said Allan Muir. “To think how kids of this generation will be doing the same and riding to the Muir is really kind of cool.”
Mayor Drew Dilkens as a child briefly had John Muir as his elementary school principal while a student at Bellewood Public School.
“I have known him for a long time,” Dilkens said.
“Even back then he always inspired students to do more and be more. He continued that at Brock and even after he retired through the work he did to help the people and make Sandwich Towne a better community.
“He was a passionate leader and I really couldn’t think of any one more deserving for this honour.”