A number of volunteer tradesmen and friends are in the process of constructing the Bea Jensen Memorial Gazebo which is underway at Blind River’s popular Sellers Beach. Organizers have not set a completion day for the build on the fully accessible gazebo. It will depend on weather conditions.
The intent of the gazebo is to honour long-time community volunteer Bea Jensen who passed early last year. Her husband, Ross Jensen, was on location on Wednesday morning together with Mark Whitmore who is assisting at the project.
“It’s is being erected in recognition of Bea,” Ross told ElliotLakeToday at the site. “Bea has been a very stout and concerned and dedicated citizen of Blind River. Her accomplishments in Blind River are just too many to count.”
She was involved with numerous organizations, including NSHN Blind River Foundation auxiliary board member, Rotary, Golden Birches Terrace Council, union representative for AEFO, Paroisse Ste-Famille church committee member, and canvasser for Heart and Stroke Foundation, Cancer Foundation and Kidney Foundation.
Her greatest love and passion was organizing the Blind River Senior Games.
Whitmore said Algoma Community Living donated $5,000 toward the project and uranium refinery, Cameco, matched the grant with another $5,000. Eventually, donations from a public fundraiser amounted to about $32,000 for the project.
“We went to the town and we got support from the town and we went to the public and the rest is history,” he said.
Ross noted that H&C Poleline of Blind River supplied a boom truck to help put the 400-pound wood beams in place.
Coinciding with the build, the town is upgrading washroom facilities and additional seating at the beach.
Ross said the Rotary Club, which hosts concerts every Thursday with local talent adjacent to the river downtown, is hoping concerts can be held in the gazebo when it is completed and depending on pandemic restrictions.
The gazebo will also be home to a memorial plaque honouring Bea Jensen.