The village received word about a year ago that they would be receiving at least $55,000 annually from the estate of Lloyd Campbell, a former resident. A committee struck to make decisions regarding that money has been working since to get the ball rolling.
“We knew we would be getting some money,” said committee chair Lynn Flewitt, “and we sent a questionnaire out to get input over how the money should be spent. We didn’t get a huge response, but we did get some.”
A couple of weeks ago, the committee met with the community to go over the survey responses and discuss ideas of where that money should go.
“It ranged from buying sports equipment to building a gymnasium in the school and everything in between. The main thrust was to fix up the facilities to make them better.”
The donation story started a decade ago, when Campbell and his wife Elsie were still living in BC. They sent a cheque for $20,000 to his old hometown. A committee was set up and they found out this would not be the only money they would be receiving. Campbell made Minto one of the communities he would be giving a donation to in perpetuity. When Elsie died in February 2016, they found out what the annual amount would be. Minto received a smaller amount of around half that last fall, with the full amount coming for the first time in November 2017.
Campbell was originally from Minto and reportedly left Minto in 1948 as a young man, making his way to the coast and marrying Elsie in 1952.
Through the 1950s and 60s, Lloyd built and renovated homes in Vancouver. When the first McDonald’s restaurant outside of the US opened in Richmond, BC in 1967, Lloyd bought land and construted the franchise at several locations.
In the 70s, Lloyd purchased and developed 50 acres of land adjacent to the airport in Palm Spring, CA, and the couple divided their time between homes in the US and Canada.
In his 70’s, Lloyd turned to boat-building, constructing hulls in western Washington for private yachts and outfitting the boats in Vancovuer. In the 90s, his vessels fetched up to $8 million each.
Lloyd Campbell died in 2005. Elsie passed away in 2016.
Flewitt said his uncle still remembers him, as does Cyril Joye.
“My parents knew of him,” he said, “but he never came back. It’s too bad. I would have liked to meet him.”
There are restrictions on the use of the money. It is to be for youth, sports and recreation. This makes sense, as the previous donation was used to purchase sports equipment for the school and help with dance lessons and the playground at the daycare. But these restrictions are pretty broad.
“It could mean a lot of things. As we said at the meeting, it could be for music lessons or ball. We’re hoping people will expand their thoughts. Most think it is about sports, but it could be for cooking classes, arts and crafts. There are a lot of things it could be used for.”
Flewitt said the income would be a terrific opportunity to upgrade some of the existing facilities, such as the ball diamonds at the school or on the south end of town. As he said, there is any number of ideas people could come up with to improve the community.
Right now, they are looking to get applications by April 1. The expectations are that individuals or groups will come up with ideas and get the ball rolling for the practical work on whatever they are interested in. The committee will be looking at what comes in and go from there. Right now, because of what is left over from the previous donation and the first smaller bequest, they have about $38,000. Then the first $55,000 comes in the fall. Flewitt said once they get the ball rolling, they are hoping to have two application periods per year.
“It will be interesting to see what comes up in the initial applications,” he stated. “We just hope everything comes together as we put some structure in it. I think it will evolve over the next few years as people take on projects and see other things to do.”
He added they could leave some money in surplus so they could plan for a larger future project if they wish.
It is not only local people who are paying attention to this development. The windfall has put Minto under the media microscope. CTV, CBC, Maclean’s magazine have all covered this unusual story of a small community receiving a vote of confidence in their future. Flewitt said the attention is flattering.
“It’s a spectacular highlight for the community. It certainly has put us on the map and people will all be watching us, seeing how we use the money. This is a fair amount of money for a small town.”
It might not be the end of this attention. Minto is in the running to host an episode of the CBC show Still Standing, featuring comedian Jonny Harris. According to the show’s producer, Anne Francis, the town’s situation grabbed their attention.
“We are always on the look out for towns with a great survival story,” Francis explained. “The towns we settle on and visit are typically struggling (as a result of loss of industry) but are finding ways to redefine themselves. Minto came across our radar because of the bequeathment that was made to the town and the direction that it can be used to fund recreational programs for youth. For a town the size of Minto, such an act can have great impact on its future.”
Some of Harris’ standup routine, which is performed in the host community, is written prior to his arrival, based on previous research, but most is written “on the ground” as he visits the community.
“Jonny gets to know what is unique and special about the town and the people in it during his stay and his stand up material is born from this – we like to call it a toast to the town.”
Francis said they are currently looking the country over for new towns to feature. The closest community they have run an episode in is Pilot Mound. She said many factors play into the choice of a town including logistics and schedules. At this point, she cannot give a definite answer on Minto.
“I can tell you that we are excited about the possibility of visiting Minto and that Minto will be the first to know if it becomes definite,” Francis said.
Flewitt said Minto is doing well right now, with nine more housing units going up in the last five or six years and 60% of their population in the 1 to 30 age range. Improving recreation infrastructure and programs will only help attract more young people in the future.
“I hope people will start to think more about projects,” Flewitt explained, “that they will get on the train, get behind projects and think of others that will draw more people to Minto.”
by PAUL RAYNER Recorder staff