Huntsville is a community built on the dedicated efforts of its volunteers. Many local organizations and events wouldn’t function without them.<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/span> 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\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\t\t