Appreciation for Victoria’s volunteers
Recent celebration honours adult, youth volunteers
BADDECK — The Municipality of Victoria County recently celebrated the dedication of its volunteers.
Communications Officer Jocelyn Bethune said two ceremonies were held honouring residents living
North of Smokey and South of Smokey in early April.
Among the adult volunteers honoured for their work were Emmanuel Comtois as nominated by the Northern Cabot Landing Society for his work on Community Cabot Day, along with his involvement in the North Highlands Museum Board and the Buchanan Memorial Hospital foundation.
Additional honourees are Hamilton Carter for his work in bringing the St. Paul Island Museum & Lighthouse to life; Linda Murray, president of North Highlands Nordic ski club; Debbie Donovan, avid volunteer and board member for the annual Hike the Highlands festival; Rosemary Algar, volunteer with North Highlands Nordic; and Percy Rasmussen, a volunteer and board member of Hike the Highlands.
A youth award was handed out of Jenna Buffett, a Grade 11 student and star athlete on Cabot Education Centre’s senior girls basketball team.
Buffett volunteered her time to help two area mothers coach the school’s middle school basketball team. Buffett squeezes their games and practices into her busy school, sports and part-time employment schedule.
Nine community achievement awards were handed out to programs, activities or improvements to a facility or new venue that improve the quality of life in communities North of Smokey.
The honourees were: Bay St. Lawrence Recreational Society, Bay St. Lawrence Community Centre, St. Paul Island Museum & Lighthouse, North Highlands Community Museum and Culture Centre, Neil’s Harbour/New Haven Development Association, Smokey Recreational Society, Ski Cape Smokey, North Highlands Nordic and Northern Cabot Landing Society.
Adults volunteers of the year located South of Smokey, include Doug White, member of the Ross Ferry Volunteer Fire Department; Sandra Kay, a volunteer with the Boularderie Mammowarriers; Graca and Bruce Hollett, volunteers with the Ross Ferry Stewardship Society; Dean LeBlanc and Calilin Oake, both volunteers with the Big Wave Summer Festival; Don Buchanan, volunteer with the South Haven Community Hall; Nancy Smith, volunteer with the St. Anns Bay & area volunteer fire department; Amy MacInnis, volunteer with the fire department and Timebank St. Ann’s Bay; Imelda Kelly, volunteer at the Highland Village museum; Carmie and Ben MacLean, volunteers who spearheaded the Community Spirit Award – Washabuck; and Liz MacNeil, volunteer with the World Oceans Day festival.
Three youth volunteer awards were handed out to Sarah MacNeil, a volunteer at the Highland Village; Grace MacNeil, volunteer with the World Oceans Day festival; and Chrissy MacNeil, president of the Washabuck Community Centre.
Ten community achievement awards were handed out to programs, activities or improvements to a facility or new venue that improve the quality of life in communities South of Smokey.
The honourees were: Ross Ferry Stewardship Society, Big Wave Summer Festival, Victoria County Trails Federation, Iona Tourism Committee, Washabuck Community Centre, South Haven Community Hall, Middle River Community Hall, Baddeck Valley 4H Club, North River Community Hall and the St. Ann’s Health Centre.