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In 1997 the Friends decided to stage annual re-enactments at Fort York. A few challenges had to be overcome. How would we feed 300 re-enactors breakfast, lunch and supper and sell hotdogs, hamburgers and refreshments to another 1000 visitors. Councillor Martin Silva, then a member of the Friends’ Board came to the rescue and introduced us to Hank and his colleague Patrick, former chefs then volunteering at the Niagara Neighbourhood Out of the Cold program. We never looked back. Hank organized and trained a keen group of volunteers from the Niagara Neighbourhood and the re-enactors awoke to bacon, eggs and pancakes at 7am each morning. Hank was a showman and how. Jane Kennedy recalls touring meatpacking plants with Hank and Patrick to choose the perfect 800 pound side of beef for barbecuing. For 24 hours this full half a cow held by bed springs was roasted over a large bed of coals by the fort walls. No army had ever been so well fed. Hank led our food operations for a further three festivals, but the size of the roasts shrunk.
Hank was an active board member and served as liaison to the community. He continued to attend Directors’ Dinners right up to last year dressed always in the best of western gear. In 2005 he joined the staff at the newly renovated Gladstone Hotel as its general greeter, operator of its antique Otis elevator, and entertainer in the karaoke bar. It was in this last capacity that he became known best and was nicknamed “The Singing Cowboy” for his dress and repertoire. His CD will be replayed there for many years.
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