While many people in this community and on the world19 list knew Don, we realize that many of our subscribers probably did not. We hope a few words about him will help people appreciate the kind of person our community has lost, but also highlight the kind of dedication and energy he had -- as an inspiration to the rest of us. 

In announcing Don's passing, Will Ingram, the minister of Don's church (Morningside-High Park Presbyterian), wrote: "He was a great man, filled with compassion, kindness, good humour and a passion for justice in our world.  He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, neighbour and friend".  We think those two sentences truly describe the essence of the Don we knew; however we want to add a few comments of our own about our friend and partner.

Most of the members of world19 got to know Don when our organization began in January of 1997. When the Harris government made it clear -- despite overwhelming opposition -- that it was going to impose the Megacity on the citizens of Toronto, it helped create the largest popular uprising of Torontonians since the Spadina Expressway fight in the 1970's. Opposition came not only from large organizations like Citizens for Local Democracy (and within the various City and Borough Councils), but the campaign also created dozens of small community-based activist groups.

In this area -- then Ward One in the old City of Toronto -- a small group of residents formed "Ward One Residents for Local Democracy", or WORLD as we modestly called ourselves. To those who knew him, it was no surprise that among the founders was Don Jennison, someone who had always committed his time, energy, and his heart to causes of principle, to fights for the ordinary citizen, and against arbitrary and senseless decisions wherever they originated.

Most of those groups who formed around the Megacity are long gone; WORLD -- or world19 as we are now known -- is still active. Why? It's partly because its members shared a certain way of viewing the world, partly because we all care about our community, but most importantly, because we all care about each other. We each have brought certain attributes to the group. Don provided our heart.

Those of us who knew best the "public Don" inevitably first remember his deep principles and his willingness to act on them, and fight against injustice. He believed fiercely in social justice, in Canadian nationalism, in the importance of public education and public healthcare, and in economic and monetary reform. As a retired educator, he goaded the Ontario Teachers' Pension Fund to invest only in socially responsible investments. He took the same principles to neighbourhood issues, whether supporting the viability of small businesses on Bloor, or helping to get rid of a gigantic billboard on the edge of High Park. Don believed in a community that existed for, and responded to, its residents.

He had little tolerance for those who flim-flammed. (To which some local politicians can attest). He had the sprit of a bantam fighting cock, and was a champion of the underdog, always ready to challenge conventional wisdom and to stand up for -- and act on -- his beliefs.

Don was a "doer" and a "foot soldier". Although he loved walking, in the last several years, it became more difficult to do so. Instead of delivering door-do-door flyers for world19 meetings as he used to, Don would walk the neighbourhood putting up posters. One of his friends described an instance where Don was helping in an election canvass. Knowing Don's problems with his legs, he tried to make sure Don had only a small part of the poll to cover. However when the poll was completed, it was Don who had covered more of the area than all the others put together.

Besides world19, some of the organizations he has been a part of include The Council of Canadians, the Toronto Health Coalition, COMER (Council on Monetary and Economic Reform), The Alliance of Seniors to Protect Canada's Social Programs, the Swansea Historical Society, Swansea Area Ratepayers Association, and as far as I know, he has at times joined most political parties depending on which could best serve the cause at the time. As a dedicated Canadian nationalist, he served as a delegate backing David Orchard at the final Progressive Conservative Party federal leadership convention in 2003.

Some of these accounts may seem to paint a picture of a political and activist "junkie", someone whose life was completely tied up with political fights. Those who knew Don know that nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone I have talked to in the past two days, immediately brings up his wonderful sense of humour, his smile, and his great laugh. (His "cackle" as Jim Coyle wrote several years ago in a column in the Toronto Star about Don). If anyone could be described as having a twinkle in his eye, it was Don.  He had a mischievous nature, and a sense of the absurdity of the world.

Don was a life-long resident of Swansea, and he loved and took great pleasure in the beauty of his neighbourhood, and appreciated how fortunate we were to have places like High Park.  One of our world19 members, who usually participates in the annual High Park Harvest Festival, said she would often see Don at these events, emerging out of a footpath from somewhere in the park. He would look around at the setting admiringly, and say, "Isn't this something!"

If Don missed one of our world19 meetings, it was usually to spend time with his grandchildren. It would have to be an important occasion for Don to miss one of these meetings. They were a mix of politics, social comment -- and friendship. They were kitchen table or backyard meetings, usually around pizza. However, Don late in life became a vegetarian, and would bring his own home-made vegetarian sushi -- and a bottle of Ontario red wine.

Without Don, it's hard to picture world19 without our heart. However, some local politicians will now be receiving fewer phone calls, letters and emails -- unless we all help to make up for their loss. It's up to those of us who knew him, whenever we come across something outrageous and think to ourselves, "Don wouldn't put up with that!", to take on a bit of Don's work.

Finally -- but most importantly -- we want to express our sincere condolences and sympathy to Joyce and all of Don's family. We share your loss, but also share a small part of your joy in Don's life.

Below is the announcement of Don's passing from the minister of his church (Morningside-High Park Presbyterian), Will Ingram:

Obituary printed in the Toronto Star, April 27

DONALD WILLIAM JENNISON
Peacefully at St. Joseph's Health Centre on Tuesday, April 26, 2005. Dear husband of Joyce. Loving father of Paul, Donna and Eric. Loving grandparent to Michael and Julia, Isabel, Jessica, Tina and Nick. Don was a devoted principal with the Peel Board of Education. He was active in his community with World 19 and in his church family. Don loved birding, opera, flying model airplanes with Michael and especially a good Beaujolais. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, April 30, 2005 at 2 p.m. at Morningside Presbyterian Church, 4 Morningside Avenue, in Swansea.