Al MacPherson
1949 – 2023
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Allen MacPherson on Monday June 12th, 2023. He died in his home of a natural and unanticipated cause. He was 74 years young. Al was the loving husband of Barbara MacPherson for 52 years. He was the cherished father of Kim Howarth (Mike Howarth) and Julie Jones (Randy Jones). He was the adored grandfather of Tori Chernak (Blake Chernak), Kayla Howarth, Jesse Jones, and Abby Jones. Al will be greatly missed by his brother Brian MacPherson (Cheri MacPherson), his cousin/friend Mary Hagerty, his brother-in-laws Tom and Bob Pawlak (Robin Pawlak), and his sister-in-law Suzan Pawlak. He will be remembered fondly by all his nieces and nephews.
Allen MacPherson started his career after College/University as an Ontario Provincial Park Superintendent at Rondeau, Long Point, Algonquin, and Balsam Lake Provincial Parks. He left the park system to become a College Professor at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Lindsay. He specialized in Park and Ecotourism Management and later taught at the Haliburton campus of Sir Sandford Fleming College. He retired from the College in 1999 but continued to teach part time at Trent University in the Geography department for many years.
Al had a passion for trails and wrote numerous articles, trail development/management master plans, guidebooks, and training manuals. He developed and taught trail courses and workshops worldwide. He consulted on international ecotourism plans for countries like Belize, Ireland, Latvia, the US Virgin Islands and more.
Al’s expertise and significant contributions have been recognized numerous times with awards such as The Charles E Pascal Excellence in Teaching Award, A Fellowship in Applied Education from Fleming College, The Ontario Trails Council- Outstanding Achievement Trail Builder Award, the National Trans Canada Trail Volunteer Award, the Friend of the Environment Award by the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce, the City of Kawartha Lakes Environmental Hero Award and the Ontario Governor General Award for outstanding volunteer achievement.
He was the former Chairperson for the Board of Directors for the Trans Canada Trail Ontario; the former President of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail and he was serving as the executive director of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail at the time of his death. Al’s love and dedication to the environment was inspiring.
Al loved spending time with friends and family, travelled extensively and hiked his beloved Trans Canada Trail almost daily.
Family and friends are invited to join his Celebration of Life on Saturday July 22nd at the Auk’s Lodge on the Sir Sandford Fleming Campus in Lindsay. 1-4pm Snacks and refreshments will be served. This is a casual social event to share laughs and memories of Al. No flowers or gifts please. A donation to the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail would be appreciated.
