The man known as ‘Mr. Sidney’, Donald William Trivett died July 17, just two weeks after he was honoured by the little town he loved.
Born Aug. 21, 1929 in Calgary, Alberta, Don and his wife Doreen retired to Sidney, after selling a successful stationery store in Victoria. He became a tireless volunteer, giving his time to many local causes for more than 40 years.
Trivett’s dedication to the wellbeing of the citizens of Sidney began when he took over the ailing Sidney Festival Society, reorganized it and changed its name to the Peninsula Celebrations Society.
Under his energetic and dedicated direction the community and the Celebrations Society were once again able to take pride in the renewed enthusiasm with which the community celebrates events.
Trivett was the chair of the Celebrations Society for 10 years in the 1980s and 90s and was a big supporter of the Sidney Days festivities.
“One of the most time-consuming and satisfying things I’ve done was help with the resurrection of Sidney Days,” said Trivett in a 1999 interview with the Peninsula News Review.
Trivett, in his work with Peninsula Celebrations, was actively involved in other events such as the 1988 Olympic Torch ceremony, Miss Sidney Pageant, 100th Birthday Celebrations in 1991, the MacKenzie Artificial Reef Project, Saltwater Festival and the International Town Crier’s Competitions.
Trivett was a big part of establishing the Sidney Lions Food Bank in 1980 and helped start the annual Santa Claus parade in 1994.
In addition to his volunteer work with the Peninsula Celebrations Society, Trivett was a supporter of the Memorial Park Society. He served as a director until 2002.
In the mid 1990s, Trivett was integral in the pre-planning of the Sanscha Community Cultural Centre Foundation (SCCCF), the foundation formed to raise funding and oversee construction of a new community and cultural centre, and in 1996 was a founding member of the SCCCF.
Trivett was a key player in the building of the new Mary Winspear Community Cultural Centre and fundraised the first dollars.
For his outstanding community support and making the community a better place to live, Trivett was awarded the Mayor’s Community Builder Award by the Town of Sidney on June 30.
The award honours and recognizes his outstanding, long-term initiative and leadership in the development of Sidney.
A commemorative plaque outlining his achievements was placed in the garden area surrounding the Beacon Park Pavilion.
Trivett leaves behind Doreen his wife of 58 years, his daughter Debra with children; Jessica and James, and son David with his daughter Sarah.
A celebration of his life will be held at the Mary Winspear Center in Sidney on Sunday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m.
- with News Review files