The Backburn Hamlet baseball diamond located next to the Lois Kemp Arena has been renamed in honour of a local legend who passed away way too soon. Greg Kazmierski was a constant fixture at the Metro grocery store in the Hamlet, greeting customers and stocking shelves for over 30 years.

Away from the grocery store, Greg could always be found watching a hockey game in the Blackburn Arena or a baseball game on the nearby baseball diamond. He was also at every social function in the community from the Blackburn Fun Fair to whatever political event was happening at the time.

And all along the way and at every encounter, whatever he did he always had a huge smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. He loved his community and the community loved him.

Sadly, Greg passed away on June 11, aged 50, a victim of early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

On May 9, Greg's family and friends gathered together to dedicate the Greg Kazmierski Memorial Ball Diamond, cementing the legacy of someone who meant so much to so many in the community.

Orléans West-Innes councillor Laura Dudas summed up the event and what Greg meant to the community best. "Greg led by example, showing us all that a community is built on small acts of kindness and a genuine care for those around you. From now on, when players of all ages take the field, they’ll be playing on a diamond that represents kindness, resilience, and a life lived with an open heart."

More than 100 people gathered in Blackburn Park on May 9 for the dedication ceremony of the Greg Kazmierski Memiorial Baseball Diamond. FACEBOOK PHOTO

The fact greg lived such a long and impactful life is a testamrent to his love of life, positive attitude and the strength of a mother who never wanted her son to be treated differently than any other kid.

Greg faced an enormous challenge right out of the gate. Shortly after being born in Germany on July 9, 1972, the doctors discovered that he had two holes in his heart. But that wasn’t all of it. He was also born with Down Syndrome.

His parents Mary Anne and Carl were told that Greg had little to no hope of seeing his first birthday – or whether it was even worth fighting to save him.

With a strong sense that the German doctors were wrong, Mary Jane and Carl decided to immigrate to Canada to seek a second opinion.

Once here, they had to convince Canadian Immigration officials that Greg’s life had sufficient value to offset the potential costs to Canada’s health and social services.

Greg not only survived to see his first birthday party, but many more. When it came time to attend elementary school, Mary Jane had to fight once again, this time to allow her son to attend classes at Good Shepherd Catholic School with the other kids in his neighbourhood rather than go to a special needs school.

Greg not only fit in, he became the most popular kid in the school. It was the same when he went to Lester B. Pearson High School, and when it came time to graduate with the rest of his class there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as he was given a lengthy standing ovation.

Greg was special and he made everyone who met him feel special too.