Outside the farmers’ market, the crowd gathered in a semicircle, phones half-raised, drawn not by spectacle but by the presence of an alpaca whose gentle eyes seemed to reflect back the small-town heart of Oro-Medonte.
Monty arrived on the scene almost by accident, though nothing about his ascent to local fame felt accidental. When the Oro-Medonte Chamber of Commerce sought to inject life into their Shop Local campaign, they turned not to glitz or digital gimmicks, but to one of their own—an alpaca bred on Ontario soil. The original Monty, content to graze his home fields, starred on billboards. His stand-in, Cindy—known as “event Monty”—took to the highways and markets, answering invitations the original Monty politely declined. Few realized two alpacas wore the same mantle; fewer cared. Monty, in all forms, was simply a fixture.
The idea was Sylvia Stark’s, then executive director of the chamber, who saw promise in pairing commerce with warmth, turning a Shop Local initiative into a community story. Janet Schoon, Cindy’s owner, didn’t expect an alpaca to become a symbol of unity. Yet, as Monty posed for photos and lingered at events, something intangible took root. Strangers found themselves talking, laughing, sharing stories over the animal’s patient silence. At one gathering, a non-verbal girl crafted improvised songs for Monty, who stood perfectly still, as if aware of their private language. Schoon later said, “They were communicating. It was so beautiful.”
Advertising campaigns come and go, but Monty’s celebrity ran deeper. The animal’s very presence—serene, steadfast, approachable—offered a kind of gentle antidote to the daily noise. Business owners noted that the events Monty attended felt different, as if barriers dissolved. Children ran to him, parents lingered, volunteers and vendors swapped stories.
When news of Monty’s passing reached the township, responses were personal, not perfunctory. People mourned a neighbour, not a mascot. His legacy extends beyond clever marketing; it’s found in the quiet connections he fostered among residents who, for a few moments, set aside the rush of routine to gather around a four-legged ambassador.
Monty’s story is a reminder that even the most unassuming figures can carry a community forward. In Oro-Medonte, the face immortalized on a billboard became flesh and fibre—a friend, a presence, and a lasting symbol of what it means to come together.
References:
Beloved alpaca, star of Oro-Medonte ad campaign, passes away
