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A few kilometres west of Stonecliffe, a small bridge on Highway 17 passes over Grant’s Creek. It may not be noticed by many people, but it was a favourite location for canoeing, hiking and exploring by Mary Isabel Moore, who was a longtime resident of Deep River from 1949 until her passing in 2007.

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Mary is also the namesake of the Mary Moore Ecological Fund (#110) held by the Deep River and District Community Foundation (DRDCF). Established in 2008, the earnings from this fund have been directed to a variety of projects that reflect the many interests and passions of this adventurous community member.

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Her love of the outdoors and her seemingly insatiable curiosity about the natural world and its bounty was infectious.

Car trips with her biochemist husband, Alex, and their two children, Leslie and Kim, sometimes came to an abrupt halt so Mary could leap into a roadside bog because she had spotted a rare or sought-after plant species.

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The family not only spent many hours outdoors, but the treasures of the outdoors were often brought back into their home. Wild herbs were studied for identification, and a wide assortment of plants sometimes ended up on their dinner plates. Pigweed cookies, fairy-ring mushroom soup, primrose parsnips and other selections were often on the menu. Mary not only served cat-tail jelly rolls, but she also lined her jacket with cat-tail down for warmth.

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Mary’s creativity was also evident in other areas. She made block prints from wild plants to create home-made Christmas cards. (The templates for these cards were pressed from the linoleum floor tiles being discarded from the old post office.) Mary made costumes for and performed in many musicals. She also sang in several community and church choirs.

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Following the death of Alex, Mary’s self-studies and formal education in Botany led her to a career at the Petawawa Forestry Herbarium. Among many other credits, she published a series of pamphlets displayed at the Forestry Public Information Kiosk to educate visitors on how to identify trees, flowers and grasses of the Ottawa Valley.

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Her extensive botanical skills really came to the fore when 23-year-old Marysia Buraczewski of Renfrew was murdered in 1981. Mary Moore was subpoenaed as part of the investigation, and she determined that the variety of Hakelia Americana burrs that were found on the clothing of both the victim and the accused could only come from plants growing on a pathway leading to where the victim’s body was discovered. The accused was convicted of the murder.

Mary Moore wanted to leave a legacy focused on her love of nature, and due to her generosity, the Mary Moore Ecological Fund has done that and much more. From her initial donation and the many other donations that have been added to her fund, 24 community projects have received grants since 2008. The Deep River Waterfront Trail, the Four Seasons Conservancy, the River Recreation Improvement Association and the Schoolhouse Museum are just a few of the groups that have benefited.

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The rugged beauty of Grant’s Creek beckons. Or, if you are out for a walk in Deep River, feel free to stop at Hill Park near the corner of Ridge Road and Laurier Avenue and rest on the park bench there. This is one of the projects supported by the Mary Moore Ecological Fund. The bench was intentionally positioned to face the mountains across the river as you sit and remember Mary’s legacy.

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You can be a part of and contribute to Mary’s vision of allowing future generations to discover again and again the simple beauty of being outdoors and the fascinating, complex beauty that can be found in nature. Please consider making a charitable donation to the Mary Moore Ecological Fund (110) at https://www.drdcf.ca/donate or contact us at info@drdcf.ca.