Special honour for local man
Penticton man Bob Anderson is the latest winner of the Unsung Citizen of Penticton Award presented by the Rotary Club of Penticton-Okanagan.
Previous recipients include hockey great Ivan McLelland and singer Tracy Fehr.
The award is given to honor fellow citizens who quietly devote their time and energy to laudable humanitarian causes in our community.
By embodying Rotary’s motto of ì s ervice above self ,î recipients are also granted Paul Harris Fellow recognition, named after the Rotary founder.
Accordingly, they join a list of esteemed international figures including Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela and Jonas Salk.
Anderson was honored primarily for his visionary and enduring contribution to The Friends of the Oxbows, a small advocacy group of environmentally conscious citizens dedicated to spearheading a cooperative approach to protect, rejuvenate and sustain management of Penticton oxbows.
FOTO was founded a decade ago by Anderson and two concerned Neighbours, Ted Makar and the late Art Stebbing, who came together to address the rapid in-filling of the oxbow wetland from storm drainage sediment at the foot of Brandon Avenue.
With the whole ecosystem in danger of collapsing and becoming an environmental eyesore, the city responded to the group’s concerns in 2016 by installing an interceptor to catch the sand and dredging the oxbow of sediment to restore its natural wildlife charm.
FOTO has grown steadily since 2008, and is currently headed by a steering committee that’s chaired by Ray Halladay, a retired biologist.
Over the years, they have enlisted many other like-minded parties to generate grassroots interest in conservation and management of local oxbow wetlands.
They have also met with city councils and staff; briefed local MPs and MLAs; given public presentations; conducted wetland tours during Meadowlark Nature Festivals; and worked with Penticton Indian Band members.
In addition to playing an instrumental role in restoring life to stagnant wetlands, Anderson has also devoted his energy and special talents to an impressive list of other public service organizations since his retirement in 1997 after 18 years as the purchasing agent at Penticton Regional Hospital, such as the Okanagan Gleaners and Canadian Food for Children in Penticton.
He has drawn upon the extensive network of contacts made during his working days to assist the two charities to collect used medical equipment and surplus supplies for distribution to various poverty-stricken parts of the globe.
Last but not least, Bob has been a hospital volunteer since retiring, including serving as convener for non-denominational spiritual care and assisting with Interior Health Life-Line installations.