Sault volunteer remembered as 'inspiration' to community

A widely respected community member and volunteer who passed away this month is being remembered by loved ones for her generosity and compassion towards others.

Alison Walton, an avid cook, craftsperson, and gardener, devoted more than two decades of community service to countless non-profits and organizations in Sault Ste. Marie.

Among her most significant work came at the Downtown Association, Grocer 4 Good, the Horticultural Society and the former Neighbourhood Resource Centre.

Walton was 65 when she passed away at home on Dec. 7.

Before she moved to the Sault in 2000, Walton raised her three children – Jennifer, Courtney, and Brandon – in the Township of Hornepayne, Ont. Courtney Walton, her middle child, says some of the earliest memories she has of her mom resembled the best in human nature.

“Growing up, my mom was always inviting people into our home and helping people in the community,” she said. “She was always very involved with the Anglican church and the ladies there in Hornepayne.”

“There are no other words for her other than extraordinary,” she added. “My mom was always busy and was always thinking of others. She knew what she wanted and knew how to get it done, and she never veered away from what she thought was the right decision.”

Shortly after moving to the Sault, Walton opened up a gift store called “Tiny Bubbles” on Queen Street where she sold all kinds of products like home décor, music merchandise, and candles.

According to her daughter, Walton’s business helped pave the way for her to serve multiple roles with the Downtown Association, including as chairperson, between 2002 and 2010.

“She loved the downtown,” Courtney said. “She completely enthralled herself into the community down there. Everyone knew who she was, and everyone knew they could count on her if they needed something. She definitely opened people’s eyes to the potential the downtown core had.”

Sault resident Cindy Ellen Crawford was working as a communications strategist with the Downtown Association when she met Walton 17 years ago. Over that time, the two had become very close friends.

“She was always ‘buy local, support local’ before it became a trending recommendation in the community,” Crawford said. “She seemed to be a couple steps ahead and was always thinking of ways she could network resources between people.”

During her time at the Neighbourhood Resource Centre, the former Gore Street hub where people could access food, health care, and other services, Walton had been overseeing the community garden on the grounds of Etienne Brule Public School.

Her daughter told SooToday one of the best examples she could recall of her mom’s persistence and resourcefulness occurred while she was working on that garden.

“She heard Parks Canada was getting rid of fencing, and she wanted the fencing for that garden,” Courtney said. “Because they’re federal, they won’t donate fences. I don’t know how she pulled some strings, but she got those fences to keep the garden safe.”

“My mom would have an idea in her head and would just make it happen,” she added. “She stood up for who she was and was never quiet of what she thought should be going on. It was incredible.”

Gardening was among Walton’s greatest passions according to family, as highlighted by her work with the Sault’s Horticultural Society where she was an active director up until her passing.

“She loved gardening, plants, and being outdoors,” her daughter said. “We spent a lot of time out at camp in the summer times, and she always had a garden. My siblings and I are super into gardening now because of her.”

Crawford recalls a special memory when she was moving out of town and a had a large plant that she couldn’t take with her. Walton offered to take the plant and donate it, but the longtime friend didn’t anticipate what would happen next.

“She was working with some people who needed some extra supports at the time,” Crawford said. “I thought I was donating just a plant, but I came to find out she broke up the plant into smaller sections and made it available for people to take.”

“I was a little surprised because I thought, ‘this beautiful plant – you’ve taken it into all these little pieces.’ But she said there are people who sometimes need that extra bit of responsibility to nurture and take care of something. This one plant I’d given her was going to help 20 to 25 people. I never thought of it that way. She was always thinking ahead and how it could be a benefit to someone else. I really admired that.”

In more recent times, Walton dedicated many hours to Grocer 4 Good where she took her passion for the kitchen and taught cooking classes every Wednesday for people living with disabilities or other financial and social barriers.

Walton’s proud middle child says she was famous for her delicious cooking and baking, and that she would ensure all her friends were well fed.

“Her friends always left her home with a takeout container of food she made them,” she said. “She was always bringing people together from all walks of life. Her home on the holidays was open to all of her friends to come for Thanksgiving or Christmas.”

Grateful for all the times she benefitted from Walton’s cooking, Crawford says meals at her friend’s home meant she had the chance to meet new people on a regular basis.

“I met a lot of people over the table at her house who I would not have probably met in the regular course of my life,” she said. “Our common denominator was that we all knew Alison. She believed food was something that linked everyone, and that everyone needs to eat and get together.”

The love Walton had for the countless number of friends she made over the years was obvious from an early age according to her daughter.

“Anytime my siblings and I came to visit, we were meeting a new friend she had taken under her wing,” Courtney said. “She always saw the good in everybody, and she was always there to provide them with a listening ear or to help in any way she could. She was always rooting for everybody.”

“Even now, my siblings couldn’t even keep track of all her friends we had met over the years,” she added. “Our mom helped so many people along the way.”

Whether she was stopping people on the street to remind them of the great job they were doing, or making significant strides on community initiatives, Walton will be remembered as the person who was always willing to lend a helping hand according to Crawford.

“She thought that helping others was a way of being; it was intuitive,” she said. “She just touched people in so many ways. Some very subtly, and others more profound and life changing.”

“While there’s going to be a big void for a lot of people and community organizations, her presence is still working its magic out there.”

Out of Walton’s numerous accomplishments in life, her daughter explains that perhaps none were greater than the pride she felt for her three children.

“I think her seeing how we grew up and how we became adults was really special for her,” she said. “She was definitely very proud of how we were raised and how we turned out. All of my siblings inherited her strong work ethic, even when it’s not a paid position. We’ve all carried on the fact we want to keep ourselves busy and help where we can.”

“But she was never one to brag about her accomplishments; she would just get it done,” she added. “I look at her as an inspiration. Friendly, but assertive. And always there with open arms.”