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LETTER: A thousand thanks for the 'amazing' retirement sendoff for Ole and Lisbeth Madsen

The drive-by parade and outpouring of well wishes from friends and the community will be an unforgettable memory for the longtime owners of Madsen's Greenhouse who are leaving Newmarket
2021 03 22 Madsen clan
The extensive family of Ole and Lisbeth Madsen gathered for one last time at Madsen's (Greenhouses) Banquet Hall for a celebratory meal following the drive-by parade last Sunday. The family bid a final farewell to the facility that had hosted family gatherings for the past 50 years.

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Something amazing happened right here in Newmarket!

On March 21 at 2 p.m. on Bayview Parkway, a long row of cars drove slowly by a small group of people standing at the edge of their driveway. The people in their cars were honking, waving and yelling to the little group who were waving back at them, with big smiles.

Flags were proudly fluttering in the wind, beside the flags a stout Town Crier stood in his dazzling uniform and beside him his wife equally well dressed could be seen. Worth a picture, for sure, as many were taken.    

The picture I just described to you was a drive-by arranged by Lois and Kalvin Brown as a good-bye salute to me, Ole, and to my wife, Lisbeth Madsen, as we are leaving Newmarket after 50 years of owning and operating Madsen’s Greenhouses. Lisbeth and I were the people in front of a small group of family members who were waving back at all those nice people in their slow-moving cars passing by us. It was unbelievable, and Lisbeth and I have many people to thank for bringing this event to life.

First off, it was Lois and Kalvin Brown who thought it up, called people, arranged for the Town Crier, mobilized and excited everyone. In other words, they did it all. Lisbeth and I will always keep you, Lois and Kalvin, and this event close to our hearts. Not enough just to say but we say a loud THANK YOU.

Secondly, a big thank you to NewmarketToday for publishing a story, as well as running the follow-up photo gallery. Thanks to Alan Hale for writing our life story so well. Thank you very much to Debora, you truly are a community-oriented news source. I have myself read every story right from the first day NewmarketToday started. Keep up the good work.  

To all the people who came to help, like media, photographers, plus so many others, a big thanks from Lisbeth and me.

To the many people who took an hour out of their busy Sunday to come by and honour Lisbeth and me, as well all the many people who could not be there but still sent us their best wishes for our retirement, to you all, a thousand thanks, you are all part of a memory we will never forget, we will miss you all.

Ole Madsen