One of Canada’s greatest sons - an author, environmentalist, humanitarian and WWII Veteran - Farley Mowat, made his home in our county, in the small town of Port Hope.  In the course of some volunteering, I had the privilege to meet and get to know Mr. Mowat a little bit.  He was utterly charming and a gentleman of the first order.

One of Mr. Mowat’s books, a work in speculative non-fiction, was The Farfarers in which he developed a theory that hunters from the Scottish Isles came to and settled North America’s east cost long before the Vikings. He further postulated that their shelters  were whelved dwellings - rock foundations/bases rooved with their overturned vessels.   Indeed, Farley built himself just such a building.

In 2014 we lost our beloved Farley but in 2016 a dedicated team, including some very talented dry stone wall builders, and with some financial donations from the community, Mr. Mowat’s boat shed was relocated to the river walk park in downtown Port Hope on the east side of the Ganaraska River.  At the dedication, the park was renamed Farley Mowat Park.

When someone as well-loved and respected in the community dies, it is years before the true impact of that loss is felt.  We’re very lucky to have this park, as a tribute to the magnificent man to be sure, but also as a place for reflection on the many gifts Farley left behind.  That is why today’s one tiny beautiful thing is Mr. Mowat’s boat rooved house:

Boat Rooved House 1