General News

Caledon hosts annual Community Recognition Night

April 19, 2018   ·   0 Comments

Written By JASEN OBERMEYER

Volunteers throughout Caledon were recognized for their tireless efforts to volunteer their time to make the town a better place to live, by being awarded and celebrated at the town’s annual Community Recognition Night.

Though the sudden winter storm had to postpone the original gathering, many came out to celebrate volunteers at the Caledon East Community Complex this past Tuesday evening (April 17). The night also coincided with National Volunteer Week.

“It’s a week to say thank you, thank you for giving back to your community, thank you for giving your community what is probably the most valuable asset that you have, and that is the asset of your time, and the commitment you have given to whatever organization,” said Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones to those in attendance.

“If you’re involved in one organization as a volunteer, you are often involved in multiples, because you understand the value of what volunteering does for you and also for your community.”

Volunteers were recognized across several categories in various volunteer services.

Noreen Brigden, recipient of the Community Champion Award, was honored for her work with Bethell Hospice Foundation, amongst several other organizations, and said this was not expected, as you don’t volunteer for an award.

She added it is very important to volunteer, as you get more out of it than what you put in, particularly for her, meeting some of the nicest people. “You’re getting to meet all sorts of wonderful people and getting all sorts of different experiences.”

Roy Porter, one of the recipients for the Community and Social Services Awards, volunteers his time for various services, mainly with the Caledon Meals on Wheels.

He said volunteering brings joy and is rewarding for himself. “I do it because I see the value of it to the individuals that you volunteer for.”

The other recipients for this year’s Volunteer Service Awards are as follows:

Community and Social Services: Heather Baker, Leone R. Beck, Sandra Carr, Fuller Family, Stephen Julian, Arthur Rice, Kimberley Masters, Jim McClusky, Murray Mellow, Pat Mellow, Nancy Patafio, Doris Rodrigues, Tracy Smale, Anne Thompson, Kate Vaughan, and Alison Wilson.
The recipient of the Environmental Leadership Award was Mademoiselle Denreyer’s Grade. 2 Class at Southfields Village Public School.

The recipients for the Sports and Recreation Awards are: Brenda Bebbington, Betty Brander, Greg Downey, Brian Emmerton, Heather French, James Johnston, Deborah Judge, Dan Kolb, Luciano Marino, Donna Marks, Carol Ruta, South Caledon Soccer Club, and Carol Williams.
The Belfountain Heritage Society and Norma Calandra were awarded the Arts and Culture Award.

The Committees of Council Members Awards were given to: Betty Allen (Seniors Task Force), Gail Grant (Seniors Task Force), George Jenney (Hearing Tribunal), Kathleen Lynch (Accessibility Advisory Committee), Margot Scott (Seniors Task Force), and Robert Waldon (Committee of Adjustment).
Taylor Reid was the recipient of the Sports Achievement.
Patricia Franks, Sarah Graham, and Kim Nelson were honored with the Distinguished Citizen Award.
Caledon Mayor Allan Thompson thanked everyone in attendance, particularly the volunteers, reiterating the importance of them for the community. “People do it not because they have to, they do it because they want to make their community more unique, more special.”
He said he’s constantly meeting new volunteers and people in Caledon he never knew of before.
“There’s so many people out there constantly volunteering that you run into that you never met before.”

Mayor Thompson described volunteers as community champions, and without them, Caledon wouldn’t be complete. “Everybody that steps up to the plate, to make something better for our community.”

         

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