Lingwood honoured on Walk of Fame

Rex Lingwood, Mayor Marolyn Morrison and Daphne Lingwood read the inscription on the stone honouring the CACY founder on the Caledon Walk of Fame.

Another milestone in the ongoing evolution of the Caledon Trailway included the induction of the 2007 Caledon Walk of Fame recipient.

Caledon East resident Daphne Lingwood was honoured with her stone during a ceremony Sunday afternoon.

The innovative sculptor and painter of leather art and jewellery, is an internationally known artist who taught across Canada. Lingwood created her thriving business on Airport Road in 1950, known as Daphne of Canada, exhibiting her art at prominent art shows all across North America.

From her studio, she taught professional artists and local children interested in working in leather. She conducted workshops in the Maritimes. She has taught workshops in St. Lucia, Montserrat, Bermuda and her native Trinidad.

Lingwood is best known as founder of Caledon Arts & Crafts for Youth (CACY). In 1957 Lingwood and the ladies auxiliary of the Boys Scouts and Girl Guides started a community craft show and sale to raise money to support these groups. It was a popular event held annually on the first weekend of November each year in Caledon East. In 1976, CACY was formed and took over administration of the show. The profits of CACY are used for high school scholarships and for the last 35 years summer arts and crafts programs are held for children in the area.

MP David Tilson, Rex Lingwood and Mayor Marolyn Morrison unveil the stone to honour Daphne Lingwood on the Caledon Walk of Fame.

This year, CACY will celebrate its 50th anniversary. A gala is planned for Thursday, Nov. 1 at the Royal Ambassador and include a tribute to Lingwood, as well as a silent and live auction. Proceeds will support CACY's summer programs. For more on this event, call 905-951-3244.

Rex Lingwood, Daphne's son, accepted the honour on her behalf, noting they're deeply honoured to have the efforts of CACY recognized through her in this manner. It was Daphne's intention from the very beginning to give the community an appreciation of arts and crafts. Daphne, he said, believes art is an essential part of life and this stone on the Walk of Fame is a testament to that. He said his mother is known for simply saying: "I was only doing what I wanted to do."

Initiated in 1999, the purpose of the Walk of Fame is to honour Caledon citizens, both past and present, who have made a significant contribution to the quality of life, not only in Caledon, but globally as well.