Ivor Hance Alexander "Roy" (1880-1979)
1880, Jan. 3, Hance Alexander (Roy) Ivor was born in Strathroy, Ontario.
1882, his family moved to Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, where he allegedly started his life long interest in birds. His interest in birds started at around the age of 10 when Roy Ivor became the foster parent of a blue jay that fell out of its nest.
1925, Roy Ivor moved with his mother to Erindale.
1928, at the age of 49, Roy Ivor sold the family stone and marble business and dedicated all his time to the study and care of wild birds. He built the cottage (shown below), on the 40 acres he bought in Erindale, which becomes known as the Windinglane Bird Sanctuary.
He studied and worked, cared and lived with the birds for over fifty years. During this time, he took care of thousands of birds. His famous studies benefited researchers all over the world and also school children who came to visit him at his sanctuary to learn how to care for and respect birds and wildlife. There were enclosed cage or pens of every size, even giant ones shattered around the property, usually filled to capacity. He was also know as legendary pipe-smoking "bird man of Erindale", who ran the rescue centre for sick and injured birds.1948, He was amongst the first people who warned the world of the detrimental effects of DDT on wildlife.
1954, Apr., Seeing Birds as Real Personalities & Bluebirds on the Wing in Color.
1959, Mr. Ivor's Mother dies, Catherine Lochiel Cameron born 1854 - age 105. She was laid to rest at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Erindale.
To those driving along Mississauga Rd., it is easy to miss, no sign to note the Bird Sanctuary, it was not a tourist spot. The nursing station to the natural denizens of the forests, is marked by simple stone pillar, now disintegrating, across from the main entrance to UTM or the Erindale campus for us old folks. It was not called Windinglane for nothing, it really did take the long way, down the hill to the Erindale creek then back up the hill and around some more. Generations of UTM students have trudged up the path through the woods and struggled to climb the long flight of stairs that goes by the property. Windinglane became a destination for school trips, where students learned how to care for injured birds and to respect wildlife. People from across Canada and the United States brought sick or injured birds to him so he could nurse them back to health.
1968 - at 88 Roy Ivor publishes I Live with Birds, which has two printings and makes Mr. Ivor even more internationally know for his success in healing birds with love and caring as he treats them as his friends. Likely, one of the best time of his life but sadly, for every one, short lived.
1970, Oct. 21, below, minutes from the Town of Mississauga Council meeting. What ever money was gained from the book was short lived by 1970 things were so bad that supporters of Mr. Ivor were asking for finical help from the Town of Mississauga. Mr. Ivor was such a proud man he would not take money for himself but would for feeding & looking after the birds. However, we can see the elected representatives of the day (not including Hazel), were willing to support the Bird Sanctuary.1970, Dec. 29, fire that broke out on his property, leaving him homeless and the birds with no shelter. The great love and respect people from all areas of expertise had for Roy Ivor was demonstrated after the first when help poured in from across the country. Students, architects, politicians, all helped rebuild the sanctuary and care for the Birdman of Mississauga. The Globe and Mail wrote on the aftermath of the fire: "He was a man who made sick birds well; the man who was often seen walking through the woods with a bald eagle, one wing crooked, hopping along at his side. Here was a man who knew a lot about nature before ecology entered the popular vocabulary- a man with a reverence for living things”.
All that remains of his first home is the stone fire place and chimney. At this point Bernice's efforts were those that made recovery from the fire possible, for both Roy & the Bird Sanctuary. Beside it was placed a trailer that was soon built on to, below.
1971, Jan. 13, soon after the fire the Town of Mississauga contacts Mr. Ivor as to if he needs help and he says no - odd. Not sure of the reason, too proud, still thinking he should just give up or maybe he was getting so much help from the community. Still the Town was concerned and asked for a report from staff - no reports from the 1970 survived sadly.
1973, Dec. 17, Hance Alexander (Roy) Ivor, naturalist and author is appointed to the Order of Canada as a member (C.M.), for a lifetime devoted to the study of bird life and the care of birds.
1975, Jan. 3, on his 95th birthday, Mr. Roy Ivor wished for the Windinglane Sanctuary to go on after his death.
1975, Jan. 14, is the date of Roy Ivor's Investiture (the ceremony of presenting the Order of Canada medal), as a Member of the Order of Canada. News articles;
1976, A two story log style cabin was built as their main home.
1979, Dec. 10th, he died shortly before turning 100 and after running the famous Windinglane Bird Sanctuary for 51 years. He was buried in the historic cemetery beside St. Peter’s Anglican Church, beside his Mother. On top of the hill, at the corner of Mississauga Rd. & Dundas Str., in the far north corner of the cemetery, with of course, a bird house beside it. There was a "lengthy legal dispute" between Ivor's heirs and Inman about ownership of the property. It was settled - years later in Court at great cost and Bernice lost.
Cronologia Ornitologica
