Low Down Articles
In the Hills
Article 12 of 18
This article first appeared in the "In the Hills" column in the April 29, 2009 issue of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
o o o
60 years of serendipity lead Park shaper to Hills
by Catherine Joyce
David Maitland loves life. And life has returned the favour with remarkable consistency. As his wife, Donna Troop, observes, "If David's there, it's a party."
Sitting on the deck of their home overlooking the Gatineau River at Kirk's Ferry, he muses over the sweet serendipity that has guided him. "Life is full of messages. I never knew what I wanted to do. I never had a plan but a plan revealed itself as I went along."
Hard to believe of a man who, in his almost 26 years with the NCC, has helped to reshape the Gatineau Park. Think of the cross-country ski facilities, the campground at Lac Philippe, the protection of Pink's Lake and the restoration of the Healey Farm, to name just a few of his projects. Not to mention his community work (GRYC, Chelsea Foundation, ACRE), which makes David known and welcomed throughout the Hills.
Such accomplishments are impressive but the journey to get there is even more intriguing.
Like so many intrepid adventurers, David began life as "an airforce brat" - moving around six times until finally coming to Ottawa for university in 1969.
Thinking to become a lawyer like his brother, he changed his mind after a two-year stint working in a psychiatric hospital in North Bay. Then, while studying psychology at Carleton, he took a summer job as a psychiatric attendant at the Royal Ottawa where he connected with an Ottawa U professor developing one of the first programs in "Leisure Studies".
'What a concept!' thought David. By 1976 he had another degree in something few people had ever heard of.
"Serendipity is a funny thing. It's really all about who you run into. I tend to go with my hunches, to take the road less travelled. Every impulsive move has led to more freedom in my life."
Want a job? David's sitting on a porch mocking a classmate walking by all dressed up in a suit. Turns out the guy's working for the Ontario Ministry of Culture and Recreation; he says they're hunting for staff to run a grants program. David borrows a suit for the interview and lands the job.
Now what about the right girl? David meets Donna as a summer student in 1978; soon they become a team. Then 1981-82 shakes things up. Donna is hired by the NCC while David, fed up with playing office, heads off around the world for a year. Donna promises to join him in India. Upon their return, they find Canada in the grip of the last big recession.
Want two jobs? David walks into an interview with the new Job Creation Branch and walks out a project officer. A few months later Donna hears from a friend that her old NCC job is again available - perhaps David would like to apply? Musical chairs begin. David starts at the NCC and Donna replaces him at the Job Creation Branch.
Want a place to live? Out of the blue an old room-mate calls to reconnect just as David and Donna, seven months pregnant, are trying to finance their first house with very little money. "Forget Ottawa. You could buy anything you want up here in the Hills." Although they'd never dreamed of living in Quebec. they drive north to find a world that was makes them feel instantly at home.
Three houses and three kids - Alicia, Rae-Anna and Skye - later, and they are now enjoying life in a house that used to belong to Paddy Fleming, the original ferryman of Kirk's Ferry, who just happens to be - by coincidence - the father of David's childhood babysitter from Trenton days.
All things come full circle. It's spring time again, the season of change for David Maitland. On April 29th, he turns 60. "It takes you by surprise. The years go by and suddenly you've become an elder. At this age it's a full, rich feeling. I've been so fortunate. The friends I've known, no matter how disparate, we're still moving along. There's a common thread between us."
Even his daughter, Skye, remarks upon it - "I hope I have friends like you do, Dad, when I turn 60."
Time for a party, don't you think?