ROSSEAU – Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary founder Audrey Tournay celebrated 80 years Saturday. And she received a whopping birthday gift.
Two long-time cottagers formally announced they will pay for the construction of a new state-of-the-art building at the rehabilitation centre the former teacher started in her own backyard about 40 years ago.
Sucker Bay neighbours Owen Boris, who will pay for the structure, and designer Ted Eigelshoven, who will do the design-work at cost, shared schematics of the proposed 175-by-75-foot building with approximately 100 guests celebrating Tourney’s 80th birthday at the Rosseau Memorial Hall on Saturday afternoon.
The new building will include a nursery, offices, storage space and space for recovering wildlife – allowing staff to move day-to-day functions out of the 100-plus-year-old barn and expanded trailer that serve as the hub of the sanctuary.
“It’s our contribution to the community’s spirit,” said Boris. “I’ve been here since 1960, and I’ve been taking my family on weekends to see the sanctuary and Audrey. She has dedicated her life to animals, and to do it on a shoestring budget . . . finally I’m in a position where I can help.”
For two hours Tournay, who usually prefers to shy away from public recognition, was the guest of honour at the Rosseau hall, sitting in a chair at the end of the room as a lineup of well-wishers waited for a chance to talk to her and, in many cases, pose for photographs at her side.
Elfrieda Grisch and her husband Gary have visited Tournay and the sanctuary about twice a year for about 25 years, driving up from their Kitchener home, since they first discovered the non-profit site when they found a squirrel in distress.
“A friend of mine said ‘why not take it to Aspen,’” said Elfrieda. “It was something we’d never seen before, like a fairy tale.”
Visitors on Saturday enjoyed a spread of food from the Rosseau Active Women’s group and a slideshow of Aspen memories, showing a red-haired young Tournay in the 1970s during the sanctuary’s feeble beginnings, and the numerous volunteers, and countless images of rehabilitated animals cared for and released as the sanctuary, and its reputation, grew over the past four decades. It finished with photos of a pensive Tournay and a message, “Aspen Valley will be your legacy, and all the animals will be forever grateful.”
Well-wishers then sang Happy Birthday and milled around the room, sharing memories of their own.
Remarkable
“She’s remarkable,” said Hekkla resident Lynnis Royea. “A lot of us have a dream and a vision, and they’re not able to see it through. She followed her heart and was able to follow it through.”
“I stand in awe of her,” said Humphrey resident and Seguin Township Coun. Alex Chidley. “I think she’s a wonderful person who’s done some wonderful things, especially for the animals. We’re very fortunate to have her. She’s a landmark.”
Several dignitaries were also on hand to wish Tournay well, including MPP Norm Miller and Seguin Mayor David Conn.
“She’s a really valuable regional asset and I hope we celebrate many more of her birthdays,” Conn said. “She does terrific work.”
As the two hours of visiting came to an end, a tired Tournay, oxygen tank at her side, was helped out of the room by her Ancaster cousin, Larry Tournay.
“This was beyond anything I ever expected,” she said quietly before leaving. “The encouraging thing is this many people care about the wildlife.”