A Few Words of Tribute from Niagara journalist Doug Draper
Posted November 20th, 2023 on Niagara At Large
“I’ve been thinking about the great migration
Noon and night they leave the flock
And I imagine their destination
Meadow grass, jagged rock ….
Tears and flowers
Dry over time
Memory leaves us
Melody and rhyme
When the cold wind blows
The seeds we gather
From the gardener’s glove
Live forever
Nothing dies of too much love.”
- Lyrics from Paul Simon’s Seven Psalms album, 2023
Don Alexander, RIP
Those Paul Simon lyrics came to mind when I learned late this October that Don Alexander, one of Niagara’s most dedicated community activists, died just about a month shy of his 89th birthday.
Many younger people might not know who Don Alexander was. But through all of the many decades he worked through words and action to build healther communities and to protect and preserve our natural heritage, he did his part to leave a lasting legacy for the good, for generations to come.
I can say, as a former St. Catharines Standard reporter back in the years when the newspaper was still independently owned by its founders, the Burgoyne family, Don Alexander was among the many people who raised concern and supporter me and my old Standard colleagues when the paper fell into the hands of Conrad Black and his Hollinger vultures who proceeded to gut the newsroom of editors and reporters.
Don truly understood why having a well-staffed newsroom working as a watchdog in the community is so important for keeping people informed on issues of interest and concern, and for safeguarding a free and open democracy.
A celebration of Don’s life will take place on what would have been his 89th birthday from 2 to 5 p.m. this coming Sunday November 26th at the Niagara Artists Centre on 354 St. Paul Street in downtown St. Catharines.
Sad to see that Don has joined the great migration. He was an exemplary citizen who will truly be missed.
Please feel free to share your thoughts below.
For more on the life of this extraordinary person, please click on the following link for his obituary – https://memorials.passfieldmortuary.ca/donald-alexander/5317828/index.php
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