Mark Brown - The Friends of Algonquin Park 2025 Directors Award Recipient

On July 26, 2025, The Friends of Algonquin Park presented the Directors Award to Mark Brown during a ceremony held at the Algonquin Logging Museum.

Image: Mark Brown (near middle wearing blue) The Friends of Algonquin Park 2025 Directors Award Recipient surrounded by Directors of The Friends of Algonquin Park at the Algonquin Logging Museum on July 26, 2025.

"Mark Brown had a storied 29-year career in Algonquin Park and through his efforts he has made an outstanding contribution to the appreciation of Algonquin Park. Mark began his time with Ontario Parks in 1990 as a carpenter. He worked alongside Tom Linklater on many construction projects at the Algonquin Logging Museum, including the camboose shanty. In 1994, Mark moved to trail maintenance and a year later his skills were needed on facility maintenance. In 1998, Mark went back to the Algonquin Logging Museum and worked on several more of the interpretive exhibits including the sawlog camp and camboose stable.

Mark is a “jack of all-trades” who could be counted on to get the job done and correctly. In addition to his skills as a carpenter, he was commissioned to repair the alpine snowmobiles that supported the Sunday Lake Dogsled Trail.

In 1999, Mark became a Trail Supervisor and worked until his retirement on the Algonquin Park's interpretive trails, where he excelled at working with and instructing, young and sometimes less experienced, trail crew members. Despite officially retiring in 2019, Mark has continued to share his expertise as a carpenter and trail designer. He recently assisted in the construction of the Fork Lake Trail and the relocation and reconstruction of the cadge crib at the Algonquin Logging Museum. Mark Brown has been a very important staff member who has gone above a beyond, according to his colleagues, to enhance and enrich the educational and interpretive programming in Algonquin Park. It is of great value to acknowledge the efforts of those who have contributed tirelessly over many years behind the scenes and “under the radar", as Craig Macdonald, 2022 Directors Award Recipient said.

With the opening of the rebuilt cadge crib and the Fork Lake Trail honouring Mark Brown is both timely and appropriate."

Linda Leckie, Chair, The Friends of Algonquin Park

About The Friends of Algonquin Park Directors Award

The Friends of Algonquin Park is a Canadian registered charity and non-profit, non-governmental organization established in 1983 for people passionate about Algonquin Park. We operate retail locations, recruits members, and fundraises to support the natural and cultural educational goals of Algonquin Park.

The Directors Award established in 1985 has honoured individuals and groups who have left a lasting contribution toward the appreciation of Algonquin Park. Individuals and groups have included Dan Strickland, Ottelyn Addison, Ron Tozer, Adele Ebbs, Bill Swift Sr., The Wakami Wailer, Algonquin Park children's camps, Michael Runtz, Pierre Trudeau, Omer Stringer, Gaye Clemson, Tom Thomson and many other distinguished recipients.

Related Information

• Board of Directors of The Friends of Algonquin Park