“Lou”

Whether “Lou” was billeting Bobby Orr, driving Ontario’s highways representing O.M.H.A., or volunteering locally to better the town’s recreation for youth and others, he accomplished much.

He was a lifetime member of R.R.M.H.A. in Gananoque having volunteered in many positions as well as serving as President several times from 1958-1971. He also coached and managed teams during this period. Concurrently, Lou served as an Eastern Ontario Executive member of O.M.H.A. from 1961-1970 . Lou resigned his provincial duties to concentrate on the revival of junior hockey in Gananoque and served as President, coach and team liason for many years until his passing.

While serving on the first Recreation Board Lou spearheaded the fund-raising and building plans to erect the new arena in 1970-71 in Gananoque.

He was the recipient of numerous awards during his lifetime of volunteering: in 1981 and 2002 he was awarded Citizen of the Year in Gananoque; an Olympic Gold Medal for Volunteering in 1988; a lifetime membership in the Gananoque and Eastern Ontario O.D.H.A. junior hockey associations; posthumously he received the Govenor Generals Volunteers Caring Award in 2007. Recently, the Recreation Centre in Gananoque was renamed : The Lou Jeffries Gananoque and T.LT.I. Recreation Centre.

In addition to his lifetime of volunteering in recreation and other areas of the town he was a volunteer firefighter for thirty-seven years and the deputy chief for ten years. He managed a career of thirty-seven years at the Steel Co. of Canada.

Yes, Lou was married to his wife Mavis for fifty-years and together they raised four children (two daughters and two sons). He was preceded by his beloved eldest grandson in 2002.