SPRINGHILL, N.S. – You be hard pressed to find two better friends than John Parsons and Donald Bird.
“One day he was sick and boy was I ever upset he wasn’t here at the arena,” said Parsons, talking as though it happened yesterday.
“I was at home sick but I didn’t tell him,” added Bird. “But I showed up the next day and he was as happy as can be. That was about four or five years ago.”
No matter what’s happening at the Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre you can always count on Parsons and Bird to be helping out. Their efforts were recently rewarded at the Volunteer Recognition Evening at the Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre in Springhill.
Parsons turned 61-years-old on May 25, and he has been a ‘rink rat’ volunteering at the arena in Springhill since he was 10-years-old.
Bird is 56-years-old and has been volunteering at the arena for about 13 years.
“We’ve known each other for about 15 or 20 years,” said Parsons.
Like any close friendship, there’s bound to be friction.
“We fight sometimes and don’t talk,” said Bird.
“Some days we argue but at the end of the day we’re best friends again,” added Parsons.
They sometimes spend up to fifteen hours a day at the arena.
“I like to be here so the kids have a safe place to play in the park and play in here,” said Parsons.
“In the summer he’s always out in the park picking up garbage,” added Bird.
Bird says he volunteers because he loves Springhill.
“And I like talking to people. It makes me feel good.”
Both say they love volunteering and will continue to do so for as long as they can.
“I hope I can keep going until I hit 70 or 80,” said Parsons.
“I’ll do it until the day I die,” added Bird.
Volunteers recognized at the reception are as follows:
Marion Varner – Salvation Army
Brad Webb – Municipality of Cumberland Parrsboro Recreation
Ro-Win-Lea 4H – The 4-H Club
Brenda Rushton – Senior Citizens and Retired Pensioners Club
Wanda Smith – Nova Scotia Health Authority, Al Saints Hospital Springhill
Peter and Sharon Smith – Cumberland Y’s Service Club
Carolyn Torrie – Springhill Chamber of Commerce
Heather Trenholm – Nova Scotia Health Authority, Cumberland Health Care Auxiliary
Roberta Bell – Cobequid Chapter of the I.O.D.E.
Shirley Bidwell – Sunset Community Corporation
Donald Bird – Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre
Rodrick (Rod) Boland – Age of Sail, Greville Bay Ship Building Museum Society
John and Evelyn Bradford – Cumberland Twirlers Square Dancers
Matthew Brewer – Parrsboro Mini Basketball
Travis Bryan – Outdoor arena at the Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre
Tammy Casey – Pugwash Ground Search and Rescue
David Clarke – Age of Sail, The Porthole Gift Shop
Randy Elliot – Fundy Shore Archers
Scott Fancy – Cumberland Community Homes
Ethan Ferdinand – Ross Anderson PharmaChoice Teen Centre
Jennifer Moore – Springhill Elementary Home and School Association
Richard Parker – Wentworth Senior Dinner Club
John Parsons – Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre
Linda Patriquin – Wentworth Learning Centre Cooperative
Zachary Pettigrew – Outdoor Arena at the Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre
Marlene Quinn – Nova Scotia Health Authority, South Cumberland Community Care
Megan Martin – Springhill Communities in Bloom
Eric McCully – Shore Drive Community Development Association
David McNairn – Rotary Club of Amherst
Christine McNeil – Springhill Lions Club
Brooke Miller – Ross Anderson PharmaChoice Teen Centre
April Findlay – Girl Guides of Canada, Springhill Guiding Community
Lloyd Gallant – Nova Scotia Health Authority, Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre
Edward and Thelma Gilbert – Parrsboro shore Historical Society
Earl Gilbert – Springhill Ground Search and Rescue
Rod Gilroy – Tidnish Cross Roads Community Association
Catherine Harrison – Nova Scotia Health Authority, All Saints Hospital Auxiliary
Paul Hawkes – Amherst Curling Club
Jamie Henwood – Cobequid Off Highway Vehicle Club
Kim Henwood – Springhill Baptist Church Willing Workers
Kashika Jaggi – Canadian Red Cross
Jean Francois LeBlanc – MADD Cumberland-Tantramar
Robert MacLean – Wentworth Recreation Centre
Alexandra MacLeod – Cumberland Blues
David March – United Way of Cumberland
