A sad note, I heard yesterday that Dan Kirkland has passed away.

Everyone who has ever been to Sauble Beach knows Dan. Maybe not by name, but every one of us knew him or knew of him. He was one of those always-everywhere community volunteers, on hand at every raffle table, helping to set up or tear down for every concert, every special event, every special day that was part of anyone's memory of the beach for more years than I'd want to count, they were almost always in some way brought to you by Dan Kirkland.

A friendly smile of a greeting and a nod hello, whether passing him on the street, or passing yet another table-stall raising money for another worthy cause -- earned himself '2004 Volunteer of the Year' by the Town of South Bruce Peninsula -- Dan and his bicycle were as familiar to this beach as our gate-sign. I can only hope that I might someday be even a fraction of what Dan was to fabric of this community. It won't be the same Sauble Beach without him.

My thoughts and sympathies go out to the Kirkland family on their loss, and I'm sure you all will join me in saying that.