Outstanding citizens, groups honoured by Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce
Chamber hands out annual Community Recognition Awards
Stoney Creek Citizen of the Year Georgina Beattie received a standing ovation from a crowd of more than 230 spectators as she rose to accept her honour at the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce’s annual Community Recognition Awards, May 18, at Winona Vine Estates.
Beattie, best known for her 56year involvement with the Winona Peach Festival, also led successful efforts to preserve Winona’s public school, post office, mailing addresses and the community’s rural character.
She’s still involved with an array of volunteer groups, including the peach festival, the Winona Horticultural Society, Winona Elementary School, Winona Scouting, Winona Easter egg hunt and the Winona Halloween bash.
Beattie said her award is an acknowledgment of many people. She thanked her family, friends and the community.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child. I say it also takes a village to build a community — a wonderful community that we call home.”
Orchard Park Secondary School Grade 12 student Faith McDonald was honoured as Junior Citizen of the Year. McDonald, who was attending her school’s prom on May 18, was represented by her mother, Jillian Watson.
A member of the Orchard Park Secondary School’s social justice club: SSHOPSS (Students and Staff Helping Orchard Park Students and Society), McDonald helped to lead the school’s hygiene drive in support of Mission Services. Also, through SSHOPSS, McDonald was part of a Letters to Santa campaign for students who are living with disabilities.
She tutors students in grades nine to 11 and helped to organize a community food drive, collecting 1,019 kilograms of non-perishables for the Stoney Creek Community Food Bank.
McDonald plays flute in the Orchard Park senior band and alto saxophone in the junior band.
McDonald co-founded an improv club at Orchard Park, planned a Witch Cackle Contest for the school’s Fall Fest, sold candy grams for Valentine’s Day, and participated in a Grade 9 fun day as an activity co-ordinator.
She co-founded her school’s student newspaper, the OP Oracle.
During the pandemic, she supported the school’s music program by participating in remote recordings, including “Colours of the Wind,” which highlights issues experienced by Canadian Indigenous people.
New lyrics for the song were translated into Mohawk following McDonald’s suggestion that it would help increase awareness of Indigenous languages.
“I do what I do because I really love people,” McDonald said in a video presentation. “And I love my community and my school.”
The Winona Men’s Club received a Community Recognition Award, honouring the non-profit organization for 77 years of service.
Known for selling peach sundaes at the Winona Peach Festival, the service club recently stepped up in a big way with a 2022 matching funds campaign in support of the Stoney Creek Community Food Bank and GBF Community Services
Paddock Transport International Inc. was honoured with a Legacy Award.
The trucking and warehousing business, spanning three generations of the Paddock family, was formed in 1957 with a single truck working out of a gas station. Today, the business employs an estimated 200 people at its Arvin Avenue location.
The company has close ties to the local aeronautic industry and provides vehicular support for the Stoney Creek Santa Claus Parade.
Small Business of the Year was presented to Literacy and Mathematics Academy (LAMA). Established in 2019 as the first partner under the Bell Tower Place rental arrangement at Stoney Creek United Church, LAMA expanded and thrived during the pandemic.
The private elementary school and tutoring program has approximately 125 students, growing exponentially through word of mouth.
Alectra Utilities received the Large Business of the Year Award. Formed in 2017 through the mergers of local electrical utilities — Enersource, Horizon Utilities, PowerStream.— and the subsequent joint purchase of Hydro One Brampton, Alectra delivers electricity to more than 1.1 million residential and business customers in 17 communities within the Greater Toronto and Golden Horseshoe area.