Frank Kempf named Citizen of the Year

Frank Kempf was named Tillsonburg Citizen of the Year for 2025. Standing in his backyard overlooking Lake Lisgar, Kempf has a first-hand view of the lake and the changes, for good and bad.

Jeff Helsdon Photo.

By Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On any given day, thousands of Tillsonburg residents walk, ride or drive by Lake Lisgar. The town’s only lake draws people in the way many bodies of water do, but its allure to one man turned into a symbiotic relationship that benefitted the lake in many ways.

His efforts to keep the lake healthy were recognized when Frank Kempf was named Tillsonburg Citizen of the Year. The honour was official when town council confirmed the minutes of its Museum, Culture, Heritage and Special Awards Advisory Committee at the May 12 council meeting. While discussing the nomination, Mayor Deb Gilvesy commented that she calls Frank ‘The Keeper of the Lake’.

Kempf was shocked when he learned he had been named Citizen of the Year. He was aware of the nomination, as fellow members of the Kinsmen Club had asked his permission to submit his name.

“I said if you feel I’ve made a contribution to the Town of Tillsonburg, that would be okay,” he recounted.

Kempf’s involvement with Lake Lisgar started in an ironic way. He was working as a constable with the OPP when a call came in about a chemical spill in the lake in 2011.

“Because I grew up on a farm, I knew it was just an algae bloom,” he said. However, in the ensuing conversation, Kempf was told he should do something about the problem, which eventually he did.

Previously, the Lake Lisgar Renaissance was launched in 1993 to tackle long-standing water quality issues, such as algae in the lake. Pat Carroll, a big part of the original Renaissance committee, spoke highly of Frank’s efforts in a letter of support he provided nominator Shane Curtis for the nomination.

“Frank, basically is the caretaker of Lake Lisgar harbouring the Kinship 1 barge at his home on the lake and thereby putting in countless volunteer hours to maintain the beauty and ecology of this gem we have in the middle of our town,” Carroll wrote.

Fast-forward to when Kempf received the call, and the lake was worsening again. Kempf met Pat Carroll, who was part of the original restoration efforts.

“At that point we decided we would restart the program again,” Kempf said.

His wife Paula suggested contacting local service clubs to see if there was support for improving the lake.

“Everybody was excited about restarting the improvement project on the lake,” he said.

As a result, the Lake Lisgar Revitalization Committee was formed in 2011. Joan Weston was designated grant writer, John Glass was the chair, and Kempf was appointed to work in community relations, fundraising, and overseeing improvements. A couple of other changes in Kempf’s life benefitted the lake: he joined the Kinsmen Club, which had been maintaining the lake, and he moved to a house his wife always loved—which was on Lake Lisgar.

Having the lake in his backyard made a difference for Kempf.

“I could see it every day,” he said. “I could see the deterioration and it was just unhealthy.”

Since the committee started, many improvements have been achieved. The most noticeable was when Kempf installed more aerators in the lake.

“They have made the largest difference in the lake oxygen,” he said. “Oxygen is the most important thing to make clean, healthy water. Sometimes Mother Nature just needs a helping hand.”

Other noticeable improvements the committee contributed to were the new docks for the rowing club and adjacent to Gibson House. Kempf also oversees ensuring the lake is stocked with trout every year.

Next on the list is tackling the siltation in the north end of the lake. Kempf has been talking to town engineers and Paul Gagnon of Long Point Region Conservation Authority—whom he gave a lot of credit to for helping—about what needs to be done. He believes a long-reach excavator will be the solution.

Outside of his contributions with the lake, Kempf was also involved in assisting with bringing several concerts to town with the fair board. These included High Valley, Aaron Pritchard, The Spoons and more.