By Joe Mancini
Published in June 1995
The Eighth Annual Mayor’s Dinner was another successful evening. It serves to recognize people who made significant voluntary contributions to the K-W area. We are very proud to build on the good spirit of so many people who work with us on this project that cultivates a sense of community in a meaningful way.
Milton Good was an inspirational guest of honour who brought together the large room full of people, making us all feel like friends. He redefined the phrase, “Have a Good Day.” We were pleased to honour Milton Good for his many community contributions.
This year over 20 of the 100 auction items donated were from people who have used the services of the Working Centre. Many local artists also contributed their work. We were very pleased with Mayor Richard Christy’s full support and encouragement of the Dinner. Many thanks to all those who help us out in so many ways: Mayor Richard Christy, Neil Aitchison, Lawrence Bingeman and the staff at Binge- man Park and Kitchener Caterers, Helen Donovan at Canadian Airlines, Linda Fry fogel, Dave Kropf and Encore Printing, Dominic Cardillo, John Juurinen and Ro gers Cable, Jack Downes at Kabel’s, the Macpherson clan, Peter Moberly, Douglas Dore, Herb Siefer, Ron MacDonald, Rev. Bnce Balmer, Jim Good, Lorna Bergey, Al- son Weber, Mike D’Silva, Don Allen, Jim Crawford, Mary Legary-Graham, Maurita McCrystal and many others.
A special Thank You to
• Elmira Poultry for their generous sup port as the Dinner’s Major Sponsor
• The Patrons – Elmira Poultry, Erb and Erb Insurance, MacNaughton
• Hermsen Britton Clarkson Planning Limited, RDM Corporation, Boehmers and Zehrs
• All the individuals and businesses who contributed to the auction
• Congratulations to Mrs. Nessner for winning the door prize of any Cana dian Airlines destination in Canada. The ticket was presented by Helen Donovan of Canadian Airlines. This is the fifth year Canadian Airlines has contributed generously to the Mayor’s Dinner.
Milton R. Good Honoured for Service to Community
By Ron Rempel
On April 1 at this year’s, Mayor’s Dinner, Milton P. Good of Breslau was honoured for his many years of service to the community.
At first reluctant to be in the public spotlight, Good was persuaded by his family to be guest of honour at the annual fundraising event for The Working Centre and St. John’s Kitchen, agencies serving the unemployed in the area.
The event drew more than 430 people, and raised around $20,000 for these agencies through the auction of goods donated by local businesses.
At Good’s request, local historian Lorna Bergey gave an overview of Anabaptist Mennonite history. She highlighted the role of Anabaptists in laying the foundations for freedom of religion, and explained the common faith of the varieties of Mennonites in Waterloo Region. She described Good as one who served “without fanfare”.
Bergey also matched wits with the master of ceremonies, Neil Aitchison, who said Bergey had told him of the first Old Order Mennonite divorce (“he was driving her buggy”). In her opening remarks, she referred to Mennonites as a people “who keep the Sabbath and everything they can get their hands on.”
Alson Weber, a lifelong friend of Good, highlighted his involvement in three projects: the founding of Conrad Grebel College, where he served on the board for 21 years; head of the committee that raised $2.5 million for Kitchener’s Centre in the Square; and Eastwood Community, a retirement highrise.
In a summary statement, Weber de scribed his friend as “a very extraordinary ordinary person.”
Good retired in 1976 after 30 years at H. Boehmer’s Ltd., a construction-supply company. He was the president and general manager. In 1974 he established a charitable foundation which now has assets of around $1 million, and provides grants for numerous community organizations annually.
In 1976 the Good Foundation funded typesetting equipment for Mennonite Reporter. Good helped to establish Mennonite Reporter in 1971 after The Canadian Mennonite folded. He was the founding chair of Mennonite Publishing Service and also served for several years as vice-chair.
Reprinted from the Mennonite Re porter, May 1, 1995
