Fort Frances presents new awards for volunteerism
An expanded awards recognition program has honoured four individuals and one group in Fort Frances.
Town council decided last year to introduce new awards to complement the annual Citizen of the Year and Youth Citizen of the Year awards it has presented.
The goal was to recognize more people in the community.
Heather Johnson, the executive director of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, was selected Citizen of the Year.
She was cited for her leadership with the Chamber and participation with the Fort Frances Downtown Business Improvement Association, while offering support to many other organizations, such as the Legion, museum and other community organizations.
“I am overwhelmed and humbled, but just so very grateful for the person who nominated me and for the town to choose me as their citizen of the year. It’s definitely an honour,” says Johnson.
Johnson says she grew up watching her parents lend their time to the community, a trait that carried with her through a career in banking and now with the business community.
Alexis Latter was selected as the town’s Youth Citizen of the Year.
The Fort Frances High School grade 12 student has served as president of the student council and was a member of the athletic committee, earning a leadership award.
A regular performer at music festivals and school musical productions, Latter has also assisted at youth music camps and youth musicals.
She was also selected as the inaugural Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society’s Fair Ambassador last August and volunteers at a variety of sporting and community events.
“I really try to be a good role model in the community, and this just makes me feel like I’m on the right track,” says Latter.
“Hopefully, being recognized for doing this, it’ll make other people want to come forward and volunteer and put their time and effort into all the things we have going on in our community.”
Diane Maxey was the winner of the new Lifetime Volunteer Achievement.
The former classroom teacher continues to tutor students, teach music and singing, while finding to volunteer with clubs and organizations around town.
She is also the musical director of the Fort Frances Choraliers, well-known for their Christmas and Easter Cantatas.
“I’m very, very humbled,” says Maxey.
“I never do it for the gratification. I never do it for the glory, but the gratification that I receive is just unbelievable. And it’s all from, everything is from my heart.”
Maxey gives praise to other volunteers who were not officially recognized, and encourages others to lend a hand.
“Volunteers are just worth gold. If we didn’t have these volunteers, nothing would really happen,” says Maxey.
“There are so many things in this community that need volunteers. And now we’re looking for the younger volunteers because some of us have been in it a long time, and we just need a lot of help from the young ones now.”
Maxey’s volunteer experience came at a young age when she helped at her church by performing or teaching Sunday school.
Carol Booth is another community volunteer who has done so for several years.
She was named the first winner of the new Volunteer of the Year award.
The former hairdresser at Rainycrest Long Term Care has continued to provide the service to residents despite being long retired.
She says she is humbled by the recognition.
“I don’t expect stuff like this. Just going there is thankful enough,” says Booth.
“I have people who want to give me something, and I tell them, I’m volunteering. And they say, well, we want to give you a little something. So I turn around, and I’ll buy them a Christmas plant or something. I enjoy doing it, and I thank them.”
The Eighth Street Trails Committee was bestowed with the new Group of the Year Award.
The committee maintains a network of trails that are used year-round.
It also provides ski equipment and snowshoes for winter use at no cost.
