By Sue Tiffin
As you are reading this article you know someone in Minden who deserves a volunteer award. Maybe you see them at the local school helpingstudents with reading or making sure a hungry child gets a snack. Youmight have a friend in a service club or organization who is alwaysgoing above and beyond as part of that club. They might be shovellingdriveways on your street just because or a teenager giving up homework time in order to help at a neighbourhood event.
The Township of Minden Hills would like to know who they are too to helpdistribute their annual volunteer awards and are asking for members ofthe public to consider nominating someone they know.
“I think it’s a really nice way to honour those people who are doingsomething in our community for the community” said Elisha Weisscommunity development coordinator. “They may see it as a small job butin the grand scheme of things they’re contributing to this event whichmakes up the fabric of this community.”
Weiss is asking for nominations for several categories.
“Putting an event together is a lot of work coming out to volunteer for theevent is a huge commitment and I think people should be recognized fortheir efforts“ she said.
The Ross Rigney Award is awarded to an outstanding youth between the agesof 12 and 19 in the Minden Hills area in recognition of the amalgamated township’s first reeve Ross Rigney and the value he placed onmentoring youth and encouraging their participation in the community.Past winners include Drew Hewitt Spencer Devolin and Denniella andDaniel Rivard.
The Minden Hills Good Neighbour Award honours an unsung hero someone whooffers a single act of kindness or has done multiple deeds benefittingmany people.
“Nominees for this award should be someone who has taken the initiative to dospontaneous or unheralded deeds rather than participation in groupactivities such as those with community groups or associations thatresult in Minden Hills being a more enjoyable community to live in”reads the criteria information page. Past winners include Ken CaseyDiane Peacock and Casey Cox.
The Gordon A Monk award for volunteerism and citizenship is awarded inrecognition of Gord Monk’s achievements and is awarded to someone whohas demonstrated extensive volunteerism over an extended period of timein multiple areas of service to the community township or otherwiseorganized special interest groups or service clubs. Past winnersinclude Linda Brandon Marilynne Lesperance and Sinclair Russell.
The Arts and Culture Award is given to an individual or group forsignificant contribution to the art and culture life of Minden Hillsthrough the development support preservation or promotion of localheritage culture music visual performing or literary arts. Pastwinners include the Minden and District Lions Club.
The Sports and Recreation Award is awarded to an individual team or groupwhose athletic accomplishments have brought fame to themselves and their community or those that exemplify healthy active living in MindenHills. Past winners include Craig and Tammy Smith.
The Trillium Award is given to an individual group or business whosehorticultural community beautification civic pride protectionconservation or enhancement of the environment efforts support theCommunities in Bloom program. Past winners include Liz and Nick Case.“There are so many people out there who deserve these awards and itwould be nice for the community to recognize those people to put thatnomination forward so we as a committee can be more aware of it aswell” said Weiss.For more information visit mindenhills.ca/volunteering or call 705-286-3154.
