The following is based on the speech of Right Worshipful Brother Michael C Stephenson given during the Official Visit of the District Deputy Grand Master in February of 2026 and repeated here with permission.
Important to note that the images below were taken during a celebration for Don “Doc” Fear and his lifelong commitment to Freemasonry
The creation of this Lodge was never about expansion for its own sake. It was an act of stewardship—ensuring that Freemasonry in Oshawa remained strong, accessible, and well governed.
From its earliest days, Parkwood Lodge was intended to be a working lodge—one that valued excellence in ritual, mentorship, participation, and service. Those principles have shaped its character ever since. Looking back through the reports of past District Deputy Grand Masters provides a fascinating perspective on how Parkwood has maintained that character through decades of change.
1974 – Strength and Engagement
In 1974, when Don “Doc” Fear served as District Deputy Grand Master, Freemasonry in Ontario operated on a scale that is difficult to imagine today. The Grand Lodge consisted of approximately 117,000 members across 43 districts.
Service was equally impressive. Within Ontario District, brethren recorded 374 blood donations, reflecting a culture in which charitable service was considered an expectation rather than an exception.
At the lodge level, Orono Lodge numbered 122 members, while Parkwood Lodge had grown to 136 members. These figures represent more than size—they speak to an engaged and active membership. Parkwood was thriving and making a meaningful contribution to District life.
1991 – Adaptation and Visibility
No Picture
Passed to the lodge above November 15, 2000
By 1991, under District Deputy Grand Master Richard Libby, the landscape had begun to change. Provincial membership had declined to approximately 87,000 brethren, even as the number of districts increased to 46.
Yet service continued to flourish. Ontario District recorded 483 blood donations, and Don Fear was recognized for surpassing 100 lifetime donations—a reminder that the influence of one dedicated Mason can extend far beyond his own lodge.
2007 – Commitment Through Transition
In 2007, Iain Oliver served as District Deputy Grand Master. Provincial membership had declined further to approximately 53,000 members across 44 districts.
This was also a year of anticipation. Parkwood Lodge was preparing to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in March 2008—a milestone representing five decades of faithful labour and continuity.
Membership reflected the realities of the time. Orono Lodge had 62 members, while Parkwood stood at 121. Although smaller than in previous decades, the Lodge remained active, stable, and an important contributor to the District.
2024–2025 – Stewardship Today
During the District Deputy Grand Mastership of Beau Reine, our Provincial jurisdiction stood at approximately 48,000 members across 40 districts.
The numbers may have changed over the years and are a reflection of times in general, but numbers alone have never defined the strength of Freemasonry.
What matters—and what Parkwood’s history demonstrates so clearly—is stewardship: the willingness of brethren to care for their lodge, mentor new members, and faithfully uphold the standards entrusted to them.
The order, dignity, and spirit evident in this Lodge are a reflection of dedication and commitment, and that work does not go unnoticed.
You are not simply preserving Parkwood Lodge—you are actively stewarding it, ensuring that it remains worthy of its distinguished past and well prepared for its future.
Closing Remarks
Brethren of Parkwood Lodge, your history tells the story of a lodge founded with purpose, strengthened through service, and sustained by generations of faithful brethren who understood that the future of Freemasonry is built one meeting, one candidate, and one act of service at a time.
It is lodges like Parkwood—steady in purpose, thoughtful in leadership, and engaged in their communities—that give us every confidence in the future of Freemasonry.