By DAVE KOSONIC

Harvey Currell had a thirst for gathering news and information and a knack for keeping South Etobicoke residents in the know about important local topics and issues.

Currell was well-known in the Mimico community where he lived most of his life with wife, Josephine. He was actively involved in the area and his contributions included serving as a member of the Mimico Public Library Board.

He was a reporter for The Daily Telegram newspaper and made a name covering the Etobicoke and  Lakeshore areas.

Currell was promoted to a Suburban Editor at The Tely and continued to promote coverage of South Etobicoke. It was quite an accomplishment considering that he was first hired as a young copy boy by the paper that shut down in October 1970, resulting in the loss of jobs of hundreds of newsfolk that resulted in the birth of The Toronto Sun.

Currell authored six books including, Where The Alders Grow, for the Mimico Conservation Authority. It was based on the Lakeshore watershed and this publication was also used as a text book in Etobicoke elementary schools.

He also wrote a 170-page book that was released in 1967 called The Mimico Story, which is filled with  information about Mimico dating back to the early days of the community. Historical topics include how Mimico got its name, the First Methodist Church and early families such as the Murrays and the Van Everys.

Currell authored DEDICATION, which at the beginning of this book stated: ‘To the men and women of Mimico who served King and Country in two world wars and Korea – in many instances giving their lives so that the democratic way of life might survive.’

He was also employed as information officer by the former Etobicoke Board of Education prior to the amalgamation of Toronto. Currell was right on track when he answered trustees’ questions during Board meetings held at the Etobicoke Civic Center. He always sat at the front of the room.

I was a part-time reporter for The Toronto Star at the time assigned to cover Board meetings.

Whenever I required additional information to dig deeper into a story and beat the deadline for next day’s paper Currell went out of his way to provide me with additional support because he understood ‘newspaper pressure’.

He cherished the outdoors and Currell was one of the founders of Ontario’s renowned Bruce Trail. To promote our province’s beauty he wrote a weekly newspaper column for 50 years titled Town And Country Trips.

Currell passed away in August 2020 at age 98 in Sault Ste. Marie. Josephine pre-deceased him and he is survived by his children Linda, and Robert, in addition to his five grand children and as many great grandchildren.

He was respected by all those who knew him as exemplified by condolences posted on his funeral notice and obituary site. When Bootsie Sammut recalled Currell she wrote: ’Harvey was a very warm kind cottage neighbor. I loved his stories and could listen to him for hours.’