Family, friends gather on Mallard Pond to honour memory of Jim Duthie

Craig Bakay | Oct 17, 2019

The Red Trail leg of the Kennebec Wilderness Trails will now be known as “Jim’s Jaunt” as friends and family, including his wife of 62 years, Sheila, gathered at Mallard Pond to unveil a bench there dedicated to the memory of Jim Duthie, who retired to Big Clear Lake near Arden, after a career in the RCMP in which he ended up as Assistant Commissioner.

Duthie was also active in the Friends of Arden, The Happy Gang and several other community organizations and causes.

Representing the Friends of Arden, who sponsored the event, Terry Kennedy remembered Duthie’s “silly red earmuffs” and his showing up in red serge every Nov. 11 to lay a wreath at the cenotaph.

“I think dad would apologize for the weather, he was a polite Canadian,” said son James Jr. (Jamie) as a light drizzle filtered down through the pines. “He’d also say outwardly that he didn’t deserve this, but on the inside, he’d puff out that big barrel chest and be proud.”

Music was a big part of Duthie’s life including being a member of the Arden Glee Club and the Ardenaires, and the metal bench features pipers and the first few notes of the RCMP Regimental March.

The bench itself was designed by Michael Brundage and built by Brian Mulchar, head of the Sydenham High School tech department, and his student Robbie Woods.

The program featured the song Wings by piper Gord Wright and a rendition of The Flowers of the Forest by Adrian O’Connell.

Rev. Cheryl McMurray of the Arden United Church gave a closing prayer.

Kennedy closed the event by saying: “I can just hear Jim saying: ‘go take a hike.’”

Duthie passed away April 10.