About Me
No . . . I was not born here.
My wife, Charlotte, and I moved to Calvin Township in 1982, almost 45 years ago. We chose Calvin after looking at properties from Orangeville to New Liskeard.
A year earlier, we had taken a two-week canoe trip through Algonquin Park. We rented a canoe in Canoe Lake and travelled in a circle aproaching Brent Station and then Kiosk. We fell in love with the area around Kiosk. The mixture of maple and oak wth white and red pine just felt like home. We also wanted to live somewhere where the stars could be seen at night and where, in the quiet of the morning, you could hear the beating of the wings of a flying duck as it passed overhead. Orangeville was already crowded and once you got past New Liskeard, the hardwoods disappeared.
Calvin was inbetween and we had made many friendships in the area. Playing music with Walter Becket, looking into history, getting the hay of the fields on the Wunsch and Diceman farms, and just having a great time with great people. We are glad we choose Calvin.
My wife and I dreamed of having a self-sufficient farm, and over the years we had cows, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, ducks, rabbits, geese, guinea fowl and, of course, chickens. It was an interesting life.
Along the way, we had the road block by a herd of buffalos, we watch moose graze in our back yard, and we still heard the beating of the wings of the ducks and geese as they flew overhead.
A Long Interest in Calvin’s History
In 1987, Reeve Henry Wunsch asked me to help write a history book about Calvin. Working with the Municipal Clerk, I interviewed some of our senior neighbours and recorded their stories about the past.
The book was called Calvin Remembers, and it is still requested and talked about all these years later.
I have maintained my interest in Calvin’s history ever since. I continue to maintain the Calvin History and Resources Facebook group, which now has close to 1,000 members. I believe our history is an important part of what makes Calvin Township special.
I am a published author.
I continued to write publishing short stories and in 2000 and 2003, I had two novels published. Lake of Gulls and Red Fox Road. The both sold well and were review by the Globe and Mail, The Nugget, The Star and many other newspapers. The Globe and mail wrote: “Author Richard Gould grew up in Toronto, but for 18 years he’s lived in Mattawa, in northern Ontario. In his fine first novel (from a new small press in North Bay, Ont.), the Spencers are transplanted southerners . . . caught between factions.
Gould keeps the plot moving, and mostly remembers to tell the story, not harangue the reader. A writer, and a publisher, to watch.”
There were many book signings for both novels and Lake of Gulls sold across the country even into British Columbia where it was reviewed by the premier.
My Working Career
For many years I worked for Stockfish Ford Sales and the Stockfish Automotive Group.
I began in sales and soon became Finance Manager, Sales Manager and with the unbrella organization, Business Manager. I handled millions of dollars in transactions and was proud to contribute to the success of an organization that operated Ford, Toyota, Honda, Kia and other dealerships.
That experience taught me a great deal about responsibility, finances, working with people and getting things done.
Life in Calvin
For all the years we have lived here, we have enjoyed the wildlife around our home. Moose, deer, fishers, otters, turtles, raccoons and martens have all visited us regularly.
I have shared many photographs and videos of these encounters over the years. They are a reminder of one of the things that makes Calvin such a remarkable place to live.
Working for Calvin
In 2022, I began working to try to get Calvin Township out of its financial obligation to Cassellholme. That work continues today, and I am currently working with Mayor Belanger, Mayor Corriveau and Mayor Murphy on an exit strategy.
In 2023, I was proud to be elected Mayor of the Municipality of Calvin Township.
I came to the job with a long history in Calvin, a background in business and finance, and a genuine belief that a small municipality should never be afraid to stand up for itself.
I have faced some personal health challenges along the way, and I am grateful to the many people who have offered their support. I am optimistic about returning to full strength and getting back to the activities I enjoy, including trekking through the bush.
After almost 45 years in Calvin, this is home.
I am proud of what we have accomplished, proud of the community we have built together, and proud to continue working for Calvin Township.
Richard Gould
Mayor, Municipality of Calvin Township