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Timmins park officially has a new name (2 photos)

Fern Tremblay's been active in the community for decades

A Timmins park officially has a new name.

About 50 huddled under tents on a rainy afternoon to celebrate the official unveilling of Fernand Tremblay Park.

The former King Street Park was chosen for its location.

Not only is it in Mountjoy, it's down the road from an important property for the family.

Where Dumoulin Fishing Tackle is at the corner of Riverside and Royale Street today used to be a corner store. 

Tremblay, now 88, moved there when he was two, and later took over the store from his parents.

“He used to come hunting for rabbits here in the back. Then I was brought up in that same neighbourhood, it’s very special,” said Rosanne Harvey, Tremblay's daughter.

While health reasons prevented the last reeve of Mounjoy Township and longtime community volunteer from attending the ceremony, Harvey read remarks from Tremblay. 

He said he was honoured to hear the renaming of the park was approved by council unanimously. 

"This will leave in Timmins a legacy for the Tremblay family of this generation and those to come and compel them to follow my footsteps in serving those in need around them one day at a time," he wrote. 

Tremblay said he's grateful for his late wife, Pierrette, for being by his side, and for his for children for sharing their father with the community.

"I also want it to be recognized that these achievements for which I am honoured today were accomplished with the help, support and encouragement from the community at large, from organizations and corporations too numerous to name," he wrote.

Tremblay's political career began in 1966 as a councillor for Mountjoy Township. He served as reeve from 1970-1972.

He also started Bonhomme Carnaval. 

According to his biography, its roots are in 1966 at a winter carnival when a local school teacher dressed up as a clown.

"When Fern noticed the immense joy he brough to the children, he vowed that we would have a Bonhomme Carnaval for our small municipality in 1967," it reads. 

The popular winter event is still running thanks to Le Centre culturel La Ronde.

His commitment to the Francophone community has been recognized over the years.

In 2012, he was honoured by Ecole secondaire catholique Theriault for dedication to the community and being a role model for the francophone youth. In 2015, he was recognized by Le comité des activités entourant les 400 ans de presence francophone en Ontario as someone whos contributed to the development of the francophone community in the Timmins region.

He's also been involved with the Canadian Institute for the Blind (CNIB), United Way, Knights of Colombus (where he created La Fondation Joseph Fortin Foundation), Snowarama, and more.