Jun 23, 2016


Rachael Smith-Tryon

(citation read by Councillor Mark Schjerning.

Rachael Smith-Tryon was a student at Harrowsmith Public School, and now that her own children attend the school she has become an active member of the parent council, with responsibility for communications. Over the years she has also helped out with Family Day, Canada Day and Movie Nights in the Park.

Over the past four years, she has been volunteering with Girl Guides of Canada. Jewel (her Guider name) has been making a difference in the lives of girls aged five and six on a weekly basis, providing youth-centered programming; encouraging girls to learn, make new friends, grow and discover the very best in themselves.

She works full-time and has three children, but nonetheless four years ago she began volunteering with the Frontenac Soccer Association. She was a coach and a convenor and since 2011 she has been a member of the executive and has serves as registrar, a crucial role.

She spends countless hours prior to the season start updating the website, working on the player registration portal, trouble-shooting the system when parents are unable to register, answering the soccer hotline for questions about the upcoming season, and facilitating registration via mail when needed. As the season gets underway, Rachael remains busy exporting registration files and assisting the convenors with player placements.

She also updates the association's website and is the first point of contact for the association.

Rachael is a committed volunteer. As a result of her dedication hundreds of children are able to play soccer every summer within their own community through the Frontenac Soccer Association.

Eileen Sleeth (citation read by Councillor Norm Roberts)

Eileen Sleeth made the move from Sunbury to Battersea to marry the love of her life and live on a working farm many years ago and she has never looked back. In 2014 her family received the Bank of Montreal Farm Family of the Year Award for 2014 in recognition of her family’s involvement in the community.

Over the years she has been deeply involved with Battersea United Church and the organization of all of its fundraising dinners and various functions and events, including the baking of hundreds of dozens of shortbread cookies, an event originally started by Isabel Freeman.

She drove bus for 40 years and has volunteered for many years at the Battersea Pumpkin Festival. She was Apple Pie Queen at the festival for her baking skills. For the last 12 years, Eileen has been secretary for the Holstein Federation.

Over the years she has made many friends in the community. The love and respect they feel for her was evident by the many cards, well wishes and flowers she received during her recent illness.

Linda Bates

(Citation read by Councillor John McDougall)

Linda Bates moved to Verona in 1999 and has been moving ever since. She joined the Verona Community Association (VCA) in 2004 and has enthusiastically contributed to the success of the Cattail Festival. She has served on the sponsorship team; has been manager of Cameron’s Bog, the vendor village, and children’s activities; and managed the live on-stage entertainment. She is a very active committee member in the re-designed Verona Car Show and is currently the VCA vice-president. Linda has been a member of the Boy Scouts for over 41 years and is a guild member. She participated in the Haiti project over a five-year period, leading the coordination of repairs to a school and supplying the students with a multitude of donated educational supplies. She has been involved in scouting for decades and is a member of the Sydenham Women's Institute where she is currently the past president. She has also devoted many hours to Southern Frontenac Community Services and is now employed in the Diner's Club and Meals on Wheels programs.

During the Frontenac County 150th anniversary weekend celebrations she managed the vendor village at Harrowsmith Centennial Park. Her latest volunteer commitment is as a member of the Seniors Law Enforcement Together (SALT) Committee with the Frontenac detachment.

Citation for Wilma Kenny

(read by Councillor Ross Sutherland)

Wilma Kenny is one of the key organizers in the village of Sydenham, having been involved in the establishment of at least three major local institutions.

She was born and raised in Sydenham and returned after stints out west and up north.

Wilma played an instrumental role in the creation of Sydenham’s Meadowbrook and Maple Ridge apartments, some of the best seniors' housing in Canada!

As a member of the Grace Arts Committee, she was a driving force in the transformation of the old United Church into the Grace Centre, an invaluable community space, and attaching it to the Southern Frontenac Community Services. As an ongoing member of the Arts Committee she helps local artists display their work. Wilma’s quilts, depicting the heritage of South Frontenac, are on permanent display in the center.

For many years, Wilma was the editor of the Triangle, a local community newspaper, and she is a mainstay of the South Frontenac writers' group.

As a volunteer representative of the Kingston Frontenac Library Board, where she held the vice-chair post for a number of years, she helped bring a new library to Sydenham.

Wilma has been involved in many other activities to improve South Frontenac, including writing, researching and helping produce a historical walking guide of Sydenham, which saw 10,000 leaflets circulated and still attracts interest.

(Editor's note – Wilma also covers South Frontenac Council for the Frontenac News)

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