Rob Steinman lives a life dedicated to volunteerism

From the age of four, he was hooked on volunteerism.

Rob Steinman has volunteered for most of his 76 years and is still giving back to the community.

As a young child living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Rob canvassed with his mother who was a volunteer for the March of Dimes campaign.

While attending high school, he became involved with student politics as the chairperson representing students on the local board of education.

“I remember the fun we had making hundreds of Easter Eggs for underprivileged kids and hiding them all over the town to bring some happy smiles to children who would not be able to afford the luxury of chocolate,” he says.

He moved to Peterborough after living in Bancroft for 17 years. There, he embraced volunteerism with the amateur theatre group and Eastern Ontario Drama League. Then he wrapped up his working life as head of the drama department at Crestwood Secondary School in Peterborough.

Volunteerism in Peterborough

Rob is probably best remembered in Peterborough for his tireless work in advocating for the preservation of Jackson Park from the proposed Parkway extension. In 2012, he founded Friends of Jackson Park and started an online petition to stop a road from destroying the park.

Photo courtesy of Lance Anderson and the Peterborough Examiner

Nestled in the heart of Peterborough sits Jackson Park, its 49 hectares home to natural woods, man-made trails and arguably its most distinctive feature — the 118-year-old Pagoda Bridge that spans Jackson Creek.

That the park exists at all can be traced back to the abundant generosity of Charlotte Nicholls. The wife of a prominent city businessman, Ms Nicholls, upon her death in 1890, left $60,000 — a huge sum at that time — “for the purpose of purchasing and improving public parks and recreation grounds in the said town of Peterborough” and “to hold them in trust for the inhabitants of the said town forever.”

Three years after Ms Nicholls’ passing, the Nicholls Trust in place, Jackson Park’s original 30 acres were purchased, remaining in the care of the trust until 1961 when their care, and that of Inverlea Park and Nicholls Oval, was transferred to the City of Peterborough.

“I walked there every day and loved the quiet beauty of the place so this was a most rewarding accomplishment to save the park,” he explains.

Since then, Rob has handed over the reins of running Friends of Jackson Park and volunteers by helping the committee clean up the park.

“You would not believe the garbage left behind,” he says. “We go in regularly and gather up the debris and bag it for the City to pick up.”

So, what motivates him?

“Volunteering is a most rewarding experience,” he says. “The sense of accomplishment in achieving a worthwhile goal for the community is why I volunteer.”

For the past 25 years Rob has also served on the board of Market Hall. (In fact, Market Hall-based Public Energy is seeking board members right now!) He speaks passionately about his work fundraising for this home for the performing arts to be built. How fortunate we are in Peterborough to have this first class arts centre.

“Volunteering provides an opportunity to be involved in community, to meet many interesting people and make friends,” Rob adds.

He has clearly demonstrated this principle for most of his life. In recognition of his dedication, the Rotary Club inducted him into the Paul Harris Fellowship a year ago. Its motto is’ “Service above Self.”

And Rob is not finished yet.

He has been enjoying spending several weeks in a camper van travelling around Ontario to monitor the monarch butterfly migrations. He and others document their journey across the province as they make their way to the warm climes of Mexico.

Congratulations  and thank you Rob on your well deserved Paul Harris Fellowship.

If you know someone worthy of this prestigious fellowship, contact the Rotary Club of Peterborough, Rotary Club of Peterborough-Kawartha or BEL Rotary. They recognize special people annually for their service in several ways.