VOLUNTEER RECOGNIZED
Georges River woman receives Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers
Northside woman receives medal for her years of helping others.
Evelyn Wells was going through her emails when she came across mail indicating she had won an award.
“I looked at it and thought it was just spam mail because everyone has received those kind of emails before,” said Wells. “Even though I thought it was spam, I checked it and saw that it was from the government.”
It wasn’t spam.
Wells, 70, received the email notifying her that she had been one of 46 Canadians to receive this year’s Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, awarded by Gov. Gen. David Johnston in recognition of significant volunteer contributions to a community.
“It was a total surprise to me,” she said. “I didn’t expect to receive an award.”
Wells has volunteered in the Florence and Sydney Mines communities for close to 43 years.
She first volunteered with the Sydney Mines Figure Skating Club after her daughter joined the program at the age of four.
“It kept me busy and I saw that I was helping people,” said Wells with a smile. “I knew I was helping people in some small way and it just blossomed from there.
Since then, Wells has volunteered with a number of different organizations over the years including church and festival groups as well as with the Combined Christmas Cheer initiative and the Sydney Mines Food Bank.
Today, Wells is married and lives in Georges River, after spending the majority of her life living in Sydney Mines.
Wells and her husband Roy have been married for 48 years and have a son and a daughter.
An official ceremony was held in April at Rideau Hall in Ottawa to honour the recipients of the prestigious volunteer award, however Wells was unable to attend due to an illness in her family.
She was presented the award by MLA Eddie Orrell during an appreciation night for those involved with the Sydney Mines Food Bank on June 19.
“I knew I had won the award, but I kept it a secret,” said Wells when asked about the reaction of her fellow volunteers when they heard the news.
“I don’t mind doing the volunteer work, but I certainly don’t do it for recognition, I try
to avoid that.”
Wells said she has worked with many different volunteers over the years. She believes they deserve to be part of the award as well.
“They all deserve a piece of this award,” she said. “I just lucked out because we all worked as a group and we were one big family and some of us still are. We have wonderful volunteers on the Northside and if it wasn’t for them helping, I wouldn’t have received this award.”
Wells encourages more residents to volunteer in their community.
“Get involved with local organizations, whatever is going on in your community, your church, your food bank, or whatever it may be,” said Wells. “When you volunteer you’re helping peoples lives and it gives you satisfaction knowing you’re doing a good thing.”
We have wonderful volunteers on the Northside and if it wasn’t for them helping, I wouldn’t have received this award.” Evelyn Wells