Local volunteers honoured for their service at Ontario awards ceremony

Huntsville is a community built on the dedicated efforts of its volunteers. Many local organizations and events wouldn’t function without them.

On Friday, June 16, representatives from Ontario’s Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and Parry Sound Muskoka MPP Norm Miller presented some of this region’s longest serving volunteers with service awards. The event was one of 58 Ontario Volunteer Service Awards ceremonies hosted in 40 communities across the province that honoured more than 11,000 volunteers. Recipients were nominated by their organizations for the length of time they’ve volunteered, ranging from five to 65 years of continuous service; youth (24 years old and under) were recognized for two or more years of continuous service.

Among those from the Huntsville area recognized at the June 16 ceremony at the Algonquin Theatre was Ray Townsend for an astounding 55 years of service to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232. See a full list of Huntsville-area recipients below.

Awards were also presented to residents from other areas of Muskoka, Parry Sound and Almaguin. Together, the recognized volunteers have contributed 1,569 years of service to their communities.

“I want to say thank you to all the volunteers. Our communities would not be the communities they are without you,” said MPP Norm Miller. “You’re really making a difference in improving quality of life in our communities and making things happen that just would not happen if you weren’t there volunteering. Thank you and keep up the good work. We don’t say thank you enough, and I know as volunteers you don’t do the job just to be thanked… know that the work you do is very much appreciated.”

Rose Evans, Volunteer Co-ordinator for Volunteer Muskoka

Rose Evans, Volunteer Co-ordinator for Volunteer Muskoka, encouraged more people to get involved in volunteering. “I think I’m singing to the choir here. All of you in this audience have given so much to your communities. I think you know how important it is. If I could say one thing to each and every one of you, it’s go introduce someone new to volunteering. The one thing I’m finding in my new role is that every single organization throughout the whole Muskoka region is desperate for new volunteers. Many of these people just want someone to take them by the hand and introduce them. I think we as volunteers get more back than we give out,” she said, adding, “Congratulations – you truly are the backbone of our communities.”

A post-awards reception was catered by Spencer’s Tall Trees in Partners Hall.

The Huntsville-area recipients of a 2017 Ontario Volunteer Service Award included:

Helen Austin, Fairvern Nursing Home, 35 years
Kathleen Mitchell, Fairvern Nursing Home, 35 years
Anita Denney, Fairvern Nursing Home, 25 years
Lyla Peterkin, Fairvern Nursing Home, 25 years
Betty Latour, Fairvern Nursing Home, 20 years
Sue Dixon, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, 15 years
Pam Festing, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, 15 years
Barbara Johnston, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, 15 years
Dianne Leeder-McAughey, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, 15 years
Mary Ray Ward, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, 15 years
Shirley Woodard, Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, 15 years
Muriel Carr, Huntsville Lioness Club, 20 years
Susan Strom, Huntsville Lioness Club, 10 years
Naomi Brinkhof, Muskoka Arts and Crafts, 10 years
Ray Townsend, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232, 55 years
Fred Henwood, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232, 45 years
Dave MacDonald, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232, 40 years
William Edsell, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232, 35 years
Bruce Frank, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232, 35 years
Mary McWhinnie, Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary Branch 232, 45 years
Helen Austin, Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary Branch 232, 40 years
Deborah McNutt, Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary Branch 232, 40 years
Donna Ashby, Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary Branch 232, 35 years
Catherine Chapeskie, Girl Guides of Canada, Youth

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