Kiwanis partner in phase 2 of park project
"Beautiful Joe's Paradise"
By Scott Woodhouse - Express Staff

The society announced this week the formation of a partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Meaford as well as plans to re-publish a sequel to Beautiful Joe in 2002.

"This partnership will expedite the reality of the building of Beautiful Joe's Paradise," said Gunter Neumann, co-chair of the Beautiful Joe Heritage Society, when he unveiled the model of the proposed addition to the park with Kiwanis Club President Dennis Ormsby.

Neumann says he envisions Beautiful Joe's Paradise (which is also the title of a sequel to Beautiful Joe written by Margaret Marshall Saunders) encircling the present gravesite of Beautiful Joe with granite markers containing plaques commemorating personal pets.

"The facility will be built as soon as enough plaques have been sold to finance construction," he said. The plaques are constructed from cast bronze and are inlaid with a laser engraved stainless steel plate. The plaques will cost $150 and the money will be held in a trust account until construction begins.

Neumann said the Kiwanis Club has come on board as a valued partner, paying for the initial cost of brochures and order forms which are now available from Kiwanis Club members or members of the Beautiful Joe Heritage Society.

"The first of approximately 3,000 plaques was sold during the introduction of Beautiful Joe's Paradise at the recent unveiling of the K-9 memorial," said Neumann, adding that since beautiful Joe's Paradise speaks of all animals in the animal kingdom, commemorative plaques are available for all creatures, not just dogs.

"Beautiful Joe's Paradise is based on the book by the same name written by Margaret Marshall Saunders," said Neaumann. The Ginger Press of Owen Sound will republish Paradise in 2002.

"The Beautiful Joe Heritage Society is extremely excited about Beautiful Joe's Paradise because it will further the cause of the Society and will add beauty and interest to the park," he said. "It will also give many people the opportunity to get involved in this ambitious project."

Neumann said the Kiwanis Club partnership was a significant stepping-stone and that the Society would be soliciting more partnerships in the future to help pursue this important cultural, heritage and tourism development for the Town of Meaford.