Five seniors get distinction awards
Five Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were honoured Thursday during a ceremony to recognize the 2015 Seniors of Distinction Award recipients.
The awards were presented by Premier Paul Davis and coincided with events marking National Seniors Day and the International Day of Older Persons.
The Seniors of Distinction Awards Program was launched in 2009. The 2015 recipients are Rita Andersen of Nain, Arthur Daye of Grand Falls-Windsor, Theresa Hann of Port au Port East, Goward Heath of St. John’s ( formerly of Fogo Island and Lewisporte) and Nella Hodder of St. Lawrence. The recipients were announced in June.
“They are representative of older adults throughout Newfoundland and Labrador who are taking on leadership and volunteer roles within their communities and staying healthy, active and involved for longer than ever before,” Davis said in a news release.
“As we mark National Seniors Day and the International Day of Older Persons, I congratulate the 2015 Seniors of Distinction Award recipients and acknowledge the many seniors who offer their time and talents, to support healthy aging and the development of more age-friendly communities. Their efforts are much appreciated,” said Leo Bonnell, chairman of the Provincial Advisory Council on Aging and Seniors.
Rita Andersen, Nain
Born in 1950, Rita Andersen is a much-respected and wellknown Inuit elder. She is the longest-serving employee of the Labrador Inuit Association/Nunatsiavut Government and currently holds the position of interpreter/translator co-ordinator. With plans to retire later in 2015, Andersen has had a nearly 40-year career working tirelessly in preserving, protecting and enhancing Labrador Inuktitut. Andersen is passionate about the need to ensure the Inuktitut language survives and flourishes. She takes time to teach the language to as many people as possible, including training all new interpreter/translators hired by the Nunatsiavut Government. Although she is Inummagik, a traditional Inuk, strong in culture and language, she has been the key person in using modern technology to achieve the goals of the community, through publishing and the latest technical software.
Arthur Daye, Grand Falls-Windsor
Arthur Daye was born in 1938 and raised in North Sydney, N.S. In 1957, he joined the RCMP and spent his 25-year career in Newfoundland and Labrador. Later, Daye worked with Abitibi-Price (1981-90) as chief of security and fire chief and from 1991-97 as security crew chief at the Bull Arm Hibernia Construction Site. He has been a long-standing member and volunteer with the Kiwanis Club of Grand Falls-Windsor, and particularly active with the annual music festival. In addition, Daye has been a member of the Canadian Red Cross, Exploit’s Valley Branch, for many years during which time he has supported several humanitarian programs and services, including water safety, disaster relief and response, and fund development.
Daye was awarded the Kiwanis Foundation of Canada Mel Osbourne Fellowship for long and distinguished service in 1997. He has been active with the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish since 1975. He was named the Grand Falls-Windsor citizen of the year in 2004.
Theresa Hann, Port au Port East
Born in 1939, Theresa Hann was the town clerk in Port au Port East for 27 years before retiring in 1999. Active in the Maria Regina Parish Community, she was a member of the Parish Women’s Groups, is a member of the Bereavement Team and has been a tireless fundraiser. Hann has been very active in Girl Guides and Brownies, Firettes, and continues to be active in the Twilight 50-plus Club. For more than 16 years she has organized the annual Tree of Love celebration, which raises funds for the Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital Foundation.
A cancer survivor, Hann is also involved with organizing the Terry Fox Run Marathon of Hope in the Port au Port area. She has taught square dancing to children and seniors and, in 1992, was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. The Western Regional Health Authority recognized her involvement and participation by including her photo in the 2012 Healthy Aging calendar.
Goward Heath, St. John’s
Born in 1915, Goward Heath grew up on Fogo Island and lived for more than 62 years in Lewisporte before moving to St. John’s in 2011. Heath will celebrate his 100th birthday later this month, making him one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s oldest Second World War veterans. He joined the Royal Navy in 1940 and served throughout the war. He remained with the military until 1945. During the post-war years, Heath and 15 former servicemen helped form Branch 31 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Lewisporte. For more than 60 years, Heath held posts as president, past-president, secretary and treasurer. In 1953, Heath volunteered with Civil Defence and continued with the Canadian Rangers until 1978. He also volunteered with a unit of the Canadian Army in Botwood, 617 Dambuster Air Cadet Squadron, St. Matthew’s Church and many other committees and boards.
Heath has also been active in the Remembrance Day Poppy Campaigns and the July 1 Forget-Me-Not campaigns. He has received many awards, medals and certificates, including the Jubilee Commemorative Medal (2002), the Meritorious Service Award and Palm Leaf (the highest award from the Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion) and the Year of the Veteran Award (2005). Since moving to Tiffany Village Retirement Home in St.
John’s, Heath continues to use his woodworking talent to raise money for charities.
Nella Hodder, St. Lawrence
Nella Hodder was born in 1939 in St. Lawrence, where she spent her younger years before moving to St. Bernard’s to teach in 1965. Hodder and her husband moved back to St. Lawrence in 1987. She began volunteering at the age of 12 and has been active in community, regional and provincial organizations for the past 63 years. Hodder has been a long-time devotee to the Roman Catholic Church in the communities in which she has lived, sitting on the parish council and Catholic Women’s League. As well, she has been active in Brownies and Girl Guides. A volunteer for more than 20 years with the local longterm care facility, Hodder prepares tea parties, cooks special meals, takes residents for walks and provides friendship, companionship and support to residents.
Hodder is the person who sits with lonely people during their final days in palliative care, particularly those who have few or no family members around. She has offered endless hours of service to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Newfoundland and Labrador Lung Association and St. Lawrence Cancer Support Group, to name a few.