Feature Article June 26,2003
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeSeniors of the Year Named in Central FrontenacDoreen Howes of Parham, Evelyn Izzard of Arden, and Joyce Smith of Mountain Grove, all received Senior of the Year awards at a ceremony held in the Oso Hall Tuesday.
The annual awards celebrate the long-standing volunteer efforts of special seniors in the four districts that make up the township of Central Frontenac. The fourth recipient, Shirley Peruniak of Sharbot Lake was not available for the ceremony as she is doing research in the Red Lake District of Northern Ontario, not the Red Light District as Mayor Bill MacDonald accidentally said. This faux pas caused much amusement, especially among the red-shirted members of the Arden Glee Club, who performed before the ceremony.
Doreen Howes received her award first, from Hinchinbrooke Councillor Boyce Peters. Peters pointed out that Doreen taught both his wife and his son while she was a teacher in Hinchinbrooke. Doreen has done volunteer work for about 60 years, for a list of organizations including: the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Parham Fair, Northern Frontenac Community Services, and the Parham Womens Institute. She is also the longest-serving volunteer here at the News. In receiving her award, Doreen said Boyce Peters had done a reasonably good job going over her activites, he did make a few factual errors, but thats ok, she said. I never thought, when I came to Parham 60 years ago, that I would be here for so long a time, but Ive enjoyed it. As a volunteer, Ive found that whatever you do comes back to you, and my life has been very enriched by all the things Ive done.
Evelyn Izzard of Arden was up next, introduced by Councillor Jack Nicolson, who listed Evelyns numerous activities. Evelyn is a member of the the Glee Club, a Cancer Society Canvasser, an elder in the United Church, and President of the Arden Seniors, among her other activities. Evelyn spoke of her relationship to the community, and quoted Janis Lantz, saying We live in a community that most people would love to live in year round. Every person who retires and moves here knows what a wonder it is to be part of it, if only for a while.
The third recipient, Joyce Smith of Mountain Grove, received her award from Counsellor Elva Price, who thanked Joyce for her lifetime of community work in Mountain Grove. Joyce joins her husband Fred in receiving the award. She has been involved with the Land O Lakes Seniors, and was instrumental in the Seniors Rallies. Joyce thanked everyone, especially her husband and family, in receiving her award.
Mayor MacDonald said Shirley Peruniak will be invited to a council meeting when she returns to Sharbot Lake to be presented with her recognition plaque.
