Volunteers from around Nova Scotia were honoured Monday at the province's 42nd Provincial Volunteer Award Ceremony.
A total of 65 people were nominated for their selfless contributions by their municipalities.
These are the local recipients:
KEN MACKENZIE (Town of Amherst)
Ken started volunteering with the Amherst Fire Department in 2002 after moving back to Amherst. Since then he has been an active firefighter and safety member with the Amherst Fire Fighters Association. With them he has chaired many different committees including the burn treatment, sick and visiting, and the Muscular Dystrophy Ladder Sit. He was the founding member of both the Amherst Striders Running Club, and the Amherst Trails Association where he helped fundraise and promote the development of a trail system and set up running and walking clubs. He was the founding member and race director of the Amherst Valentine Run.
RON LOGAN (Village of Bible Hill)
Ron has volunteered at the Bible Hill Fire Department for a total of 62 years! During that time he was chief for 11 years, an active member for 34 years, and an honourary member for the last 17 years. Ron has been an umpire for the local little league minor ball team and coached both boys and girls little league. He’s volunteered for the Colchester Residential Services Society for 25 years, mostly recently as the chair for the last 10 years. He was also chair of the Colchester Community Services Society.
FRANK ARSENEAU (Municipality of Colchester)
Frank started volunteering at the early age of 16. Since then he’s helped start Cubs and Scouts groups in Hilden and played a key role in the minor hockey scene in Truro and Brookfield. Frank has also been part of the Hilden Volunteer Fire Brigade for 40 years, serving as fire chief for three years and treasurer for 22 years. He has been vice-chair of the Cobequid Lawn Bowling Club, a member of the Kinsmen’s Club, president of K40 Club, member of the Colchester Hospital Auxiliary for 16 years, and co-chair of the Hospital Hub Bub for two years now. Frank can still be found volunteering in the gift shop and coffee shop of the Colchester East Hants Health Center and is the treasurer of the Hilden United Church, and director on the board for the Hilden Cemetery.
DONALD HARTLEN (Municipality of East Hants)
Donald is an active volunteer across many areas in his community, and beyond. He was a founding member of the Uniacke Scouting in 1974 and has been a colony and troop scouter, district commissioner, member of the group committee, and member of the provincial training team. He is now group commissioner. Don is an avid curler and volunteers with many of their special events. As president of the Jolly Jumpers Senior’s Group, Don has held many executive positions over the years and still helps to organize their weekly card game, tournaments and special events. As a member of the Silver & Gold Senior’s Group in Sackville, he is on the Board of Directors and serves as their treasurer. He has also been a dedicated volunteer for St. Francis of Assisi church, helping to organize weekly events and fundraisers. Over the years, Donald has been a science fair judge, a shopper for the local school’s breakfast program, and organizer of the Fireman’s Fair dinner. Currently he is helping to fundraise for the proposed civic centre in the area, organizing dinner theaters and the toonie draw.
RUFUS BLACK (Town of Oxford)
Rufus is one of Oxford’s oldest and most dedicated volunteers. At the age of 81, he is still a strong volunteer force in the community. He was one of the founding members of the Oxford and Area Food Bank where he still sits as chair of the operational board. He served on the Camp Pagweak Council for over 20 years, and still remains an active volunteer with them. He is also a founding member of the Oxford and Area Men’s Club, a group who brings a worship service to most of the nursing homes in the area. Rufus is a devoted volunteer to the Oxford United Baptist Church. He is presently a deacon of the church and has been for the past 25 years. After 18 years of being moderator for the church, Rufus has stepped down to take a break. He still leads Bible studies, took the lead on the ALPHA Program, and is an acting delegate for the Oxford United Baptist Church at the Maritime Convention. Thank you Rufus for your continued commitment to your community.
MADISON TENNANT (Town of Parrsboro)
Madison began volunteering in 2008 with Relay for Life in Parrsboro. Since then she has helped with the fundraising and sat on the entertainment committee. She was the public relations chair of her Student Council, and a member of the yearbook committee, and winter carnival committee. In additon she has volunteered at the seniors care centre, and was president of the Leo Club. Today she remains president of the Youth Town Council, on the Winter Carnival committee, and member of the Leo Club. She also is on the Regional Cabinet of the Nova Scotia Secondary School Association.
COLLEEN DOWE (Municipality of the County of Cumberland) Colleen has volunteered for many organizations including the Canadian Cancer Society, Red Cross, Holy Family Parish, Warren School, Amherst Skating Club, YMCA, Tidnish and Area Community Association, NSCC Student Association, Salvation Army, and the Canadian Diabetes Association. Colleen has also helped with many community events including the Amherst Blueberry Festival, Amherst 24-Hour Activity Day, and Amherst Winter Carnival. Colleen was a 4-H leader for 3 years, and has been the secretary for the Amherst and Area Trails Society since its inauguration. Colleen has been the director for the Cumberland Child Advocacy board advocating for the rights of children and youth for the last five years. She is also currently the secretary of Communities Addressing Suicide Together, and is involved in Pumpkins for Poverty, and Coats for Cumberland.
MARY BERRIGAN (Town of Stewiacke)
Mary started volunteering in her community about 30 years ago. Throughout that time she has been an active volunteer at the preshools and schools her children attended. She sat on the Parent Teacher Association, helping with various fundraisers and chaperoning school trips. She also volunteered at the local library with the story time program for pre-schoolers for five years. She was a Beaver leader for 10 years, and volunteered at the Stewiacke Legion, helping with dinners and events. She was on the Town Days committee, and during the centennial year dressed in costume and took visitors on foot tours throughout the town. She was president for the 324 Bonaventure Sea Cadets for 4 years, and continues to lead the Ravenous for Rhubarb festival.
JUDE CLYKE (Town of Truro)
Jude started actively volunteering when he was 25. He returned to his home community of Truro and began assisting with the Truro Jammers, a basketball program that transcended the sport for local African Nova Scotian youth. He eventually became the head coach of the program and went on to coach the CEC High School’s basketball program and the Halifax Community YMCA Basketball Program. Over the years he has been a member of the Community Enhancement Association and a board member of the Children’s Aid Society, among many other planning and ad hoc committees. He continues to be a member and co-chair of Ujamaa, a member of Community Strong, the basketball coach for the Truro Jammers, and the CBA Girls Mini Team, and currently sits on the Truro African Heritage Month planning committee.
BARB BURNS (Town of Trenton)
Barb has been a dedicated volunteer with a variety of groups since the young age of 15. She volunteered with the John Howard Society for 17 years, was a member of the Town of Trenton's Recreation and Leisure Services committee, and was an active mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County. She has lead Hop, Skip and Jump at the YMCA, been a Brownie leader, and has taught religious studies at two different congregations. Barb continues her volunteer work today. She is a very active volunteer with the Friends of Trenton Park Society, taking the lead on donations, and helping with many Family Fun Days. She has been a volunteer for Trenton Parks and Recreation for over 10 years, jumping in with everything from flower bed maintenance, to program registrations, to distributing school flyers. She volunteers at the Pictou Landing First Nation School with her husband Vernon as an in-school mentor. Barb thoroughly enjoys her most recent work visiting with and helping the residents at the Ivey's Terrace Nursing Home.
SADIE O'HEARN (Town of Pictou)
Sadie has been a lifetime volunteer for a total of 51 dedicated years! She has been involved with the Stella Maris Catholic Women's League as a member and has held various executive positions. She has been on the Parish Hall Restoration committee, been a Women's Institute member, and a member of the Congregation of Notre Dame Associates. Sadie has helped tirelessly with the local food bank, stocking shelves, and preparing packages for people in need. In addition, she has volunteered at various events of the Star of the Sea Centre, been a fundraiser with the Pictou Lobster Carnival, and helps to organize the annual Christmas dinner for the Pictou firefighters.
RETA HERON (Municipality of Pictou County)
Reta has been an active volunteer for 25 years and shows no signs of slowing down. Long before there was a formal palliative unit in the county she spent many hours sitting, listening and talking to patients near the end of their lives. She still volunteers in the palliative care wing of the Aberdeen Hospital, doing whatever needs to be done including anything from baking cookies to providing a listening ear and good conversation. Over the years Reta has helped with the Pictou County Helpline and Tearman House, answering the phone and whatever else needs to be done to help keep the women and their children safe. Every Friday Reta can be found at the Veterans Unit in Pictou where she organizes the Bingo game. She also serves as a trustee at the Durham Community Hall, and is a long time door-to-door canvasser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Kidney Foundation.
ALLAN COLLIE (Town of Westville)
Allan Collie formed the Northumberland Strait Shooters Archery Club in 2010 to promote the sport of archery in Pictou County. Allan served as president of the Archery Club from 2010 to 2014 and was elected treasurer in 2015. Allan is the secretary with the Let Abilities Work Partnership Society, providing resource and outreach services to assist persons with disabilities to participate fully in the workplace and community. He is involved with various para-sports in Pictou County and was actively involved with starting up a para-sport grant to assist disabled adults in making sport and recreation more affordable.
LISA MCGRATH (Town of Stellarton)
Lisa was introduced to volunteering though her work at Scotiabank and quickly became hooked. Over the years she has helped Big Brothers Big Sisters, Summer Street Industries, and Curl for Cancer. She has contributed to the local autism walk, local food banks, the local elementary school, and to various fundraising events and benefits. She is currently the Treasurer of the Dragon Boat races, an event that has raised $200,000 for the "Women Alike" Breast Cancer Support Group, the Prostate Support Group, and Special Olympics. She also helps with the Stellarton Homecoming committee, and continues to give her time to the various initiatives that the Scotiabank supports.
MURIEL PALMER (Town of New Glasgow)
Muriel has been a dedicated volunteer for many organizations over the years. She was an Aberdeen Hospital Pastoral care volunteer, and a faithful servant at First Baptist Church where she served on every board and committee, worked with the youth, and hosted Bible study in her home for the last 30 years. She is on the committee of the Pictou County Council of Churches. Muriel is a member of the Archway Counselling committee for Pictou County and was the former president and now secretary/ treasurer of the Colchester/Pictou Women's Association. Muriel has thoroughly enjoyed volunteering as a tour guide at the Museum of Industry for 21 years. She has also been the coordinator and judge for the Regional Science Fair for the last 30 years, and involved with science fairs across Canada during the Canada Wide Fairs.
Bottom (L to R): Ken MacKenzie, Amherst, Ron Logan, Bible Hill, Frank Arseneau, Municipality of Colchester, Donald Hartlen, East Hants
Top (L to R): Madison Tennant, Parrsboro, Colleen Dowe, Cumberland County, Mary Berrigan, Stewiacke and Jude Clyke, Truro
Bottom (L to R): Leslie Klapstein, Antigonish, Barb Burns, Trenton, Sadie O'Hearn, Town of Pictou, Tim Jordan, on behalf of Keith Jordan, Municipality of the District of Saint Mary's,
Top (L to R): Allan Collie, Westville, Lisa McGrath, Stellarton, Muriel Palmer, New Glasgow and Andrew Murray, Antigonish