“Follow your dreams” was the message Jim Good had as he celebrated the 30th-anniversary celebration of one of Prince George’s finest hidden-gems, Goodsir Nature Park.
On Friday, June 21, at 7:30 p.m. Good read the declaration he wrote 30-years prior, when his dream of creating his very own nature park that showcases a collection of Canada’s plant life, had just begun.
“Goodsir very definitely tells a story of Canada, a fulfilled legacy for all to see for generations to come,” says Good. “I cannot imagine the success I would have had in these later years from those early years.”
Good read his declaration on the very same spot and exactly 30 years to the day he first wrote it, to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters.
That included representatives from Tourism Prince George, MLA Shirley Bond and John Brink from the Brink Group of Companies as well as friends, family and nature enthusiasts.
Good’s daughter Maureen also read letters he received from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Office and MLA Mike Morris, who were invited but could not attend.
Goodsir Nature Park spans 160 acres and features over 2,000 plant species, which Good has collected throughout his travels across Canada.
Visitors can wander through the groomed trails to view and learn about the plant life as each plant is meticulously labelled detailing what kind of plant it is and where it can be found in Canada, on signs hand-made by Good.
The park also has picnic tables and camping grounds, as well as two museums showcasing Good’s dual love for both plant life and music.
Goodsir Nature Park is located in Salmon Valley at 22825 Old Summit Lake Road North. Admission to the park is by donation and is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The 30th-anniversary celebrations will continue all summer long, as Goodsir Nature Park will be providing free refreshments on all of the summer long weekends.
Here is Jim Good’s Goodsir Nature Park declaration in full:
“I declare this land of mine as Goodsir Nature Park named after my grandfather’s mountain Mount Goodsir. Its purpose is to focus on all native plant life throughout Canada, that of our creator. It was built on a janitor’s salary and I believe it will stand the test of time for future generations to see. You can’t own a mountain, a river, a moon or the sea, any more than you can own a piece of land with a forest on it. However, in my case, God has entrusted me with this land to show off his beauty of creation through native plant life. He has made me a custodian of it to take care of what I have done and someday it will be passed on to someone else. “
- Dated on the evening of June 21, 1989 at approximately 7:30 p.m. in Salmon Valley, B.C.
