Gordon Alexander "Skid" Watson (1896 - 1984) Inducted 1989

"Canada's Mr. YMCA" - a title most suitably ascribed to Skid Watson, after 70 years as a member and leader with the Y . He was born and educated in Orillia where he spent many happy hours in the new Y, opened in 1907 on Peter Street, just north of Mississaga Street. There he learned those important values for which the Y stands.

After teaching in a country school at Dartmoor, near Sebright, he enlisted in the service. Again, in England and France, he found the Y meant so very much to the Canadian soldiers.

Returning to Orillia, Skid spent his whole life in the service of the Y as General Secretary, a position he held until his retirement in 1968 - 41 years. His relentless efforts ensured the growth and success of the local Y.

For years, summer camp was a very important part of the life of the YMCA. As far back as 1910, William Thomson allowed the Y to use his Breezy Point property on the east shore of Lake Couchiching, and for some years the camp was known as Breezy Point. The camp ran intermittently as a tenting project. "Skid's" dream was to establish a permanent camp at the site and to that end he expended enormous effort. He was proud that his project received tremendous support from the entire community. And so Camp Summerland, an institution that developed Canadian youth from coast to coast, came into being in the 1930's.

Skid entered wholeheartedly into the life of the town, serving on numerous boards and institutions and giving freely of his leadership. The words that best describe this man are displayed on the mural at the new YMCA building on Peter Street North - "Camper, Counsellor, Student, Teacher, Soldier, Athlete, Naturalist, Husband, Father, Community Leader, Mentor, Humanitarian, Citizen of the Year, Churchman, Friend".