The community volunteer efforts of 2017’s Junior Citizen of the Year Emily Simon and Citizen of the Year Cathy Richardson were lauded at the annual Citizen of the Year banquet on Friday night.
The event was held at the Western Development Museum, a venue of special significance to Richardson because it is where the Games Centre will be during the 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games in North Battleford.
Richardson is a volunteer with the games serving as co-chair of the ceremonies and protocol division in charge of the opening and closing ceremonies, torch parade and Games Centre, and took the opportunity to plug the games during her speech.
She was also involved in Habitat for Humanity, sat on city council for a term, and has been heavily involved in music galas and church choir activities.
Her speech, in fact, was a little unusual as she broke out in song near the end.
Members of her church choir in the hall joined in as Richardson sang, “Oh, you gotta get a glory in the work you do; A hallelujah chorus in the heart of you. You can sing or tell a story, Dig or shovel coal, If you don’t get a glory, Then the job lacks soul.”
In speaking afterwards, Richardson spoke about how she felt about the honour.
“It’s so humbling. It’s an amazing opportunity to know that what you do has an impact on people. So it’s just wonderful to share with all those people tonight.”
Simon, a Grade 11 student at John Paul II Collegiate, has received her Junior Citizen of the Year honour at a younger age than many past recipients of this honour. Simon enjoyed the support at the banquet not only of her family but a large number of friends and classmates as well.
Most notable has been Simon’s involvement in Me to We, her school’s SADD chapter and SRC, and in St. Vital Parish. She had also gone on a mission trip to Ecuador, which inspired her to start a yard care business, Kids Helping Kids. She has also been heavily involved with Skate Battlefords.
“I’m overwhelmed with how much support I’ve had in the community,” said Simon to reporters, who explained the reason she volunteers is because she enjoys it.
“It’s just something I do and part of who I am,” she said. “I have some great roles models who’ve shown me it’s kind of fun to help people.”
