King's Dr. Barnett receives award from province
By Bill Rea

King resident Dr. Henry Barnett received an Ontario Senior Achievement Award last week from provincial Minister Responsible for Seniors Jim Bradley and Lt.- Gov. James Bartleman.

Dr. Henry Barnett has received much recognition over the years, both for his work in medicine and conservation.

And the King Township resident received some more last week, from the province.

He was among 21 recipients last Tuesday of Ontario Senior Achievement Awards from Lt.-Gov. James Bartleman and Jim Bradley, minister responsible for seniors.

Barnett, 84, was cited as a world renowned neurologist, physician, researcher and teacher, wellknown for conducting clinical trials that showed that aspirin on a regular basis reduces the risk of stroke. He is still active in the medical community, lectures young interns and volunteers his time in the area of heart health research

He was also noted for putting the "stroke" in the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The prestigious Henry J.M. Barnett Scholarship, awarded each year by the Foundation, honours his exceptional contributions to stroke research, education and patient care.

But his work as an active environmentalist and a longtime leading volunteer and supporter of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has drawn much attention in this area over the last couple of years. He has been instrumental in the success of its conservation efforts in the preservation of Happy Valley - the largest intact deciduous forest on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

He was also cited as a dedicated fund-raiser for the project and a careful steward of the land, and was praised for having placed a conservation easement on the family property - a covenant that limits development on the land. The Barnett property became one of the building blocks of protected land in Happy Valley.

He is also a Companion of the Order of Canada and in 1995 was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Barnett said he found out about the award about 10 days before the reception at Queen's Park. "I gather the people have been working back and forth about it, including my daughters and some of my old secretaries," he commented later in the week.

He had also heard quite a number of people were nominated, with figures including 350 and 400, so making the top 21 of that group was an accomplishment.

"I feel honoured about it, and pleased," he said, adding he wasn't sure who nominated him. He suspected the Township and mayor might have had something to do with it, or possibly NCC

"I don't nose around and see how it came about," he remarked, adding he's never determined how his Order of Canada came about either.

As for what comes next, Barnett said there are several items on his agenda. His 80-acre easement in the Happy Valley Forest, which he granted about four years ago, is a big commitment, and he's hoping to persuade some of his neighbours to follow that lead.

"The property remains in private hands," he observed. "That's the secret of it."

He also pointed out how King council was recently persuaded to close the road allowance between the two segments of the 7th Concession running through the forest, and efforts are under way with NCC to create a conservation easement. The land is still owned by the Township, but no one will be able to build there, cut down trees or plant foreign species. "The Township has been very good about this," he said.

He also said they are looking for the best ways to keep motorized vehicles out of the forest, while allowing walkers and horses in. "King Township is a very big place for horses," he observed.

Barnett is hoping these efforts from the municipality will continue.

"The council, I think, are a bit proud of the fact they've got this treasure on their hands," he remarked.