Every year since I first met Ruth Leitch May 30th was always marked down on my calendar.It was a day family and friends would stop in to her Birthday celebration at the Alvinston Estates party room. There would always be people sitting around a table sharing snacks laughter and stories with Ruth. Last year, Ruth’s 89th birthday I arrived late and missed the festivities but was happy to find her on her deck with her daughter Dawn relaxing after the festivities.
I didn’t stay long not realizing it would be the last birthday I would spend with Ruth. The thought had never occurred to me it could be the last. Ruth was one of those rare people who’s vibrancy, knowledge and attitude made me feel we had all the time in the world with many more moments to share. Ruth passed away on Monday, October 17th 2022.
Ruth was the push behind starting the Brooke-Alvinston Arts and Activity Group here in Alvinston, which then led to the five years of the Alvinston Art’s & Music Fest until COVID. The group decided that the perfect way we could pay homage to all she did for us and for this community would be to have a bench made to celebrate her life. Immediately the idea was greeted by enthusiasm from others in the community. People who also worked alongside Ruth in her many projects, book clubs, service clubs, family and friends. Many of those people donated towards the project which led to plans to an unveiling as a way to celebrate what would have been Ruth’s 90th Birthday.
Murals in Metal from Lucan Ontario took our ideas on what the bench could be and came up with the amazing design. Working together with Municipality of Brooke-Alvinston and the Alvinston Library Kathryn Shailer helped to bring everything together on Tuesday, May 30th at 2 pm with a full house at the Alvinston Library.
Former Mayor Don McGugan took to the floor during the bench presentation with the story of his first encounter with Ruth. The beginning of many years of friendship. He began 70 years in the past when people celebrated major events in their homes. He remembered when his parents were friends with some Presbyterian’s and they had card parties. Being Baptist’s they didn’t play cards but they were still invited. He was there with his mom, dad and two sisters for a lunch. “And I Still go for lunch,” Don quipped and everyone laughed.
It was the wintertime, about 10 o’clock and the door opened and in walked “a young sparkling young lady, bright, sharp, brilliant and if I’m a kid, you know, young ladies always looked good!” He continued. He asked who she was and they told him Ruth Sifton. That was his first connection with Ruth.
He spoke about Ruth’s dedication to her family, church, being a preacher and her community spirit. In the later years Ruth was always there as a press reporter or as Alvinston’s librarian, which developed their friendship for years to come.
When he retired someone asked Don if he was interested in municipal politics. He had always had an interest in municipal politics and in 1997 when more folks asked him, he said “Well you have to be careful with what you say and how you say it.” So before jumping in he told them he wanted to think about it.
Don thought of Ruth as a confidant and a friend so he went to her for her opinion she said “Why don’t you try it?” She also offered to help him make his first flyer, which they did!
Later when Don was on County Council and they were asked to vote on whether or not they would spend 10 million dollars on an art gallery (most of it be paid for by Ottawa and the province). He said, “Maybe I wasn’t one the worlds greatest cultural individuals, with a laugh. So he went to Ruth to ask her which way she thought he should vote? They had a really great chat and her answer to him was “Well Don, why not vote for it, it can’t hurt can it? It will improve our quality of life.” In the end Don did vote for yes and it passed so now Lambton County is now home to the Judith & Norman ALIX Art Gallery.
Mary-Jo Bryce who took over as Alvinston’s librarian when Ruth retired spoke next. She let everyone know just how instrumental Ruth was in the construction of the library and it’s addition. Ruth approached service clubs, council, held fundraisers, advertised for donations and added input into the design. A design of a library and it’s open concept Ruth had seen in Arizona while visiting her sister was where Ruth’s vision came from. “She did a great job,” said Mary-Jo.
According to Mary-Jo, Ruth seemed to know what a great librarian she would make long before she did. On a visit to the library Ruth had asked Mary-Jo if she’d be interested in her position once she retired. Mary-Jo told her, “I can’t do your job.” Ruth replied “I didn’t ask you if you could do it, I asked you if you wanted it.”
Once retired the library became Ruth’s home away from home. “She was a historian and called upon to answer questions only she knew the answers to,” Mary-Jo said.
Mary-Jo believes that Ruth would be happy that everyone was congregating within the walls of the library in commemoration of her contributions to the library. “The location of her bench is appropriately situated by the front window as a remembrance to her, she used to sit on the inside in front of that window in the rocking chair,” Mary-Jo reminisced.
Marie Downie spoke on behalf of the Alvinston Book Club and her longstanding friendship with Ruth. She couldn’t remember how long the two of them have been a part of the Book Club only that it’s been a long time. Ruth had helped to plan the 100th Anniversary of the Alvinston Book Club but COVID made the celebration impossible. It’s now past that milestone which includes the club being the oldest continuous organization in Alvinston. It started after WWI with women who had been getting together to knit. Once the war ended they still wanted to meet. Money was scarce and libraries scarcer so they bought a book reading a chapter each time they met and the Alvinston Book Club was born.
Dawn McNally, Ruth’s daughter addressed the crowd thanking everyone for being at the celebration and bench dedication. Her heartfelt thanks was palpable, going out to everyone who played a part in making the bench become a reality. She included all the donors, those who are a part of the Alvinston Book Club and the Friday Sisters, both of which Ruth played a big part of. She also thanked Amanda Lampman, a friend of Ruth’s, who made a sizeable donation towards the bench.
It was clear that Dawn, like me and I am sure many more will miss the Birthday party Ruth planned each year. “Mom would have thought this was the best birthday celebration ever!” While speaking these words Dawn’s son joined her to help get the words out as Dawn was moved to tears in the moment.
Sharing a story about her mom’s impact on a young girls life who is now a principal at a Guelph school. Ruth had encouraged this girl to enter a contest that involved reviewing books. She ended up winning the contest helped along by Ruth’s encouragement. Dawn encouraged everyone to share their own stories of her mom with her, “even if it brings tears, thats okay,” she said.
ALVINSTON - Stories from the Church 