History of SRCA’s Founder

Reproduced from Inside Toronto, in case they remove the article:

Scarborough has lost a strong champion and dedicated community volunteer with the passing of Valerie Plunkett.

The founder and president of the Rosewood Taxpayers’ Association (RTA) died on Tuesday, April 12, with friends and family by her side.

Plunkett, 80, had been a member of the 42 Division Community Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) for 14 years, seven as chairperson. A position she held up until this year.

“She worked tirelessly in the community and she was quite feisty,” said Staff Sgt. Dave Rydzik. “She didn’t take no for an answer.”

Rydzik worked with Plunkett on the CPLC. He praised her accomplishments with the RTA – getting 900 of her neighbours in the Brimley Road and Finch Avenue to join and keeping them updated with newsletters and regular meetings.

Supt. Diane Miller of 42 Division was at the last RTA meeting giving an update on crime statistics. She said a resident inquired why the numbers were so low in their neighbourhood compared with some others and Miller gave credit to Plunkett who she said was always on the lookout for graffiti or suspicious activity.

“I don’t think I’ve met anyone as determined as she was to make changes in her community and keep it safe,” Rydzik said.

They made her an honourary member of 42 Division to recognize her efforts.

“She was an amazing woman,” Miller said.

Though feisty, Plunkett worked well with politicians in the community to advocate for change.

“She made sure she was in touch with all the politicians to advocate for whatever she felt needed to be done,” said Scarborough-Rouge River Councillor Chin Lee.

He first met her nearly 20 years ago when the two were part of a group lobbying against a large raise Scarborough Board of Education trustees had voted themselves.

“She was a very strong advocate for her community,” he said. “She was very strong-minded in terms of community safety.”

Lee said Plunkett was a strong defender of Scarborough, taking objection to reports of crime in the media that brushed the community with a broad stroke.

Despite her strong presence in the community, Lee said Plunkett was a private person.

“She liked to keep her privacy even though she was out there advocating for others,” he said.

Those close to her knew she was sick. Rydzik and Miller said despite her declining health, the community remained her top priority.

“She knew she wasn’t well, but she was refusing to let anything keep her down,” Miller said.

Rydzik said she would be missed at an awards ceremony the CPLC held Thursday, April 14, evening.

“It was a shock to us when she passed away,” he said.

A private memorial service was held at Pine Hills Visitation Centre on Wednesday, April 13.

A celebration of Plunkett’s life will take place in the near future; a date has yet to be announced. “That’s an opportunity for people to come out and pay a tribute to all of her hard work,” Miller said.