Winchester volunteer honoured with Senate tour

Jonas Fossitt was welcomed to the Senate by Sen. Bernadette Clement to honour a lifetime of community dedication.

Article content WINCHESTER — A beloved lifelong resident of Winchester was welcomed in the Senate of Canada chambers as a guest of Sen. Bernadette Clement on July 12. Jonas Fossitt is well known in the Winchester and North Dundas communities for his steadfast and unwavering commitment to his community. Recommended Videos Fossitt’s resume of community involvement goes back decades.

From managing North Dundas Minor Hockey Association in the 1990s; to helping during the Ice Storm of 1998; organizing floats for Winchester’s Parade of Lights; taking part in the Ottawa Race Weekend for prostate cancer; and, more recently keeping spirits up during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Jonas has never wanted to make a big show of anything that he’s done,” said Marnie Fossitt. Marnie and Jonas Fossitt have been married for 55 years, and have known each other most of their lives, having grown up in proximity to one another.

Last September, Jonas was diagnosed with GIST, or gastrointestinal stromal tumour, a rare type of cancer. Marnie Fossitt explained she and her husband were touched by the community’s response when people found out the news. “It was absolutely incredible ... the food, the cards, the check-ins, the offers to take him to the oncologist appointment, the visits when he was in the hospital,” said Marnie Fossitt.

“He’s a type of person who, even though he’s not well and he’s had a lot of terrible side-effects from these drugs ... he is somebody who he loves being around people.” When Jonas Fossitt arrived at the Senate of Canada Chambers on Wellington Street in Ottawa, Marnie said her husband had no idea what was in store for him.

“He didn’t know. He thought we were just going on a tour of the Senate,” said Marnie Fossitt. “This was a complete surprise.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jonas Fossitt found a unique way of thanking front line responders. Jonas would dress up in a new costume each week to ring the church bell. It began as a fun way to thank medical professionals and soon grew to include over 50 different costumes.

“People who weren’t even involved with the church or churchgoers started tuning in each week to see (which costume he was wearing),” said Marnie Fossitt. Jonas and Marnie Fossitt are used to stepping up when a crisis occurs. During the historic Ice Storm of 1998, he conducted wellness checks on isolated seniors, delivered hot meals to the emergency shelter, and opened his home to local youth.

“I came home from work and I said, ‘who are all these boys in the basement?’” said Marnie Fossitt, reflecting on the most severe winter weather event to hit eastern Ontario in generations. While many homes were without power, the Fossitt family still had a wood stove to keep warm. “Our son was a teenager at the time ... (Jonas) said ‘some of these kids don’t have any heat.’”

Jonas Fossitt had the youth playing board games while they kept warm, but Marnie explained it wasn’t all fun and games. Jonas Fossitt had a community to help keep warm, and the group of teenagers were tasked with helping him bring supplies to the local shelter. Jonas Fossit has also spent a decade driving for the Meals on Wheels program, serving on the board of a non-profit seniors’ residence, and spends every Thursday volunteering with the House of Lazarus.

His list of involvement is extensive and covers almost every area of social life in North Dundas and SDG. “Through his sportsmanship, dedication, and kind heart, has touched the lives of many, especially young people and the most vulnerable,” Clement said in a social media post. “For your many years of volunteer work and so much more, we are deeply grateful for your service to your community.”

Jonas Fossit is approaching his current challenges with the motto, “living my best life as a thriver,” highlighting his determination and positive attitude. To help give back after receiving so much support from friends, family and neighbours, Marnie and Jonas organized a high-tea fundraiser. The event was a way for the couple to ‘pay it forward,’ said Marnie.

Jonas arrived in costume and served participants as a butler. The lighthearted and fun response to their recent challenges further underscored Jonas Fossitt’s commitment and love for his community.