2013 Volunteer Come and Go Luncheon well attended

2013 Come and Go Volunteer Luncheon
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

The Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9 and the Town of Pincher Creek  worked together to host the eighth annual Come and Go Volunteer Luncheon, open to all those who volunteer in our area and those who are curious about the many volunteer opportunities available.

Cheryl Handford and
Town Councillor Murray Lauder

The event was held at the Pincher Creek Community Hall on Friday, April 26, and was very well attended.  David Green acted as Master of Ceremonies, and a number of organizations were represented in booths around the walls.  "We appreciate all our volunteers.  This year was another great turnout," said Cheryl Handford, one of the event organizers.

Elks' Charlie Price

Volunteers in the hundreds flocked to the luncheon, representing a diverse segment of our population.  What they all have in common is a desire to help this community be a better place for themselves and others.  Without these people and all that they do we would be reduced in every single capacity of our existence as a community.  There are volunteers out there supporting this community every moment of every day, in every aspect of human endeavor, from the mundane, to the most uplifting, to the most tragic.

Sahra Hancock and
future volunteer

Town Councillor Sahra Hancock introduced all the people in the area that have received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award that were in attendance.  "We want to publicly give an acknowledgement and thanks to to these individuals for their work and dedication in our community," Hancock then asked for Karen Andrew, Art Bonertz, Lynn Brasnett, Dick Burnham, Maragret Cox, David Cox, Rodney Cyr, Jennifer Fischer-Sonberg, Earl Johnson, Ernie Olsen, John Sinnott, Joe Stockinger, Bob Westrop, and John Chuck Lee to stand to the applause of the audience.

This award recognized many of the heroes of our area  for their outstanding efforts.   Hancock addressed the room as a whole saying, "We are all worthy of appreciation and thanks today for all the work that each of us does.  This community has a very, very strong history and hopefully the future of volunteerism and dedication is shown through this packed hall today."

Mayor Olsen at the mic with Deputy Reeve Rod Cyr
and SASCI's David Green

Mayor Ernie Olsen represented the Town of Pincher Creek, and instructed the crowd to shake hands with the person next to them.  "I just wanted you to know that you just shook hand with one helluva nice person, somebody the community can be proud of," he said.

June Spak and Marian Smith

Next up to the mike was Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9 Deputy  Reeve Rod Cyr.  "Volunteers are a very important part of our community.  Without them a lot of events would never happen and be successful.  Hats off to you, and enjoy your meal."

Ralph Bourque and Brett Wuth

Ralph Bourque presented Brett Wuth with the  Pincher Creek Community Emergency Management Agency (PCCEMA) Volunteer of the Year 2013 award.  Wuth has served for many years with Search and Rescue and on the Pincher Creek Community Management Agency board.  Bourque praised Wuth for his skills and his work towards modernizing these two vital sectors of our community.

Ted Smith and George Dowson

Ted Smith presented George Dowson the Windsor Heritage Senior Drop in Center Senior Citizen of the Year Award for Lundbreck.  "George has been an outstanding community supporter for a long time," said Smith, listing Dowson's many sports affiliations over the decades, adding that "He helped re-vitalize the Lundbreck Citizens Council, and has been Director and President, and is currently Treasurer."

"George has been a tireless community organizer, he is always there."

Dan Cleland and Anne Molnar

Dan Cleland presented the Lundbreck Citizen of the Year Award to Anne Molnar.  Cleland listed a few of Molnar's accomplishments.   She's been the Secretary and Director of the Lundbreck Citizens Council  since 2004, including acting as a Liaison between the Citizens' Council and Livingstone School. She's been a member of Citizens on Patrol for the last three years.  She's a member of the  Cowley Lions.  She's been a member of the Lundbreck Volunteer Fire Department for 12 years and currently serves as Lundbreck's Fire Captain.  She's put in many hours as an Emergency Medical Responder.

Jessica McClelland and Tara Cryderman, hostesses extraordinaire

David Green brought to everyone's attention that the competition for grant money will be fierce considering current provincial  government cutbacks.  The Southwest Alberta Sustainable Community Initiative (SASCI), which he manages, is offering a fundraising workshop series on Wednesday afternoons for four weeks, starting May 1.  Click here for more information about those workshops.

Earl Johnson of the Cowley Lions Club