[Jigsalot]

Originally Posted by Elliot Moose

An update and heartfelt thanks!!
We have located the missing bench.
Apparently a well meaning person from the environmental branch was out that way the week before May Long and saw the bench. The person was concerned that it was too close to the edge (as at least one poster in the FB Crown Land Camping Group mentioned--but we did have reasons for where we put it) and was worried that some person might fall off and hit their head on the bottom of the river (not knowing that it is about 10' of water and that this is where people purposely jump in). Knowing that many a tipsy person might pass that way the following weekend, the person removed the bench for the public good.
The very kind person in the office in Sundre that a member of our group talked to said that they normally make every effort to contact family/friends etc. if they find a memorial that is a problem, and do it well before any removal, but in this case the perceived safety issue overrode that. And then the long weekend, COVID, etc and they never did follow up. We will recover the bench and meet with them later this week about the placement, but it looks like we will be allowed to place it back at the site--but maybe in a slightly different spot if there is a safety issue.
Steve's family and friends are all very moved by the outpouring of support and the many dozens of shares that have come from all over. We can't thank you all enough. It restores one's faith in people! We got home and just had to do something to try to find it, rather than sitting back and waiting until we may or may not have found out if the forestry people were involved (if we could even reach them!)
Hopefully we will have it back (with formal permission) in the near future and many of you will get a chance to enjoy the spot sometime when you are in the area. Sit and enjoy the creek, hang your towel on it, or chat with a friend. That is what Steve would have loved to see.

Good to hear you have it back. 👍