The community had a chance to honour the selfless efforts of two individuals Friday night at the Dekker Centre.
The annual banquet was held to honour the 2013 Citizen of the Year Jerry Wintonyk and the Junior Citizen of the Year Jonathan Neigum. The awards are sponsored by the News-Optimist, the Battlefords and District Co-op and the North Battleford Lions.
Both were there along with family and friends. Among those in attendance were many city officials as well as MLAs Herb Cox and Larry Doke, both of whom Wintonyk knew very well.
Wintonyk was presented his award by a fellow City employee - Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Steinborn, which was fitting as Wintonyk himself was a volunteer firefighter with the North Battleford Fire Department for 23 years. Both have worked closely together on many inspections of buildings.
Wintonyk said he still can't believe he's received the Citizen of the Year honour.
"I am totally, totally honoured, I am humbled," said Wintonyk. "I am still in shock."
But Wintonyk said he was particularly proud to have won the award during the centennial year in North Battleford.
The long-time building inspector for North Battleford was recognized for his various contributions to the community. A few of his noteworthy endeavours have included chairing the Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation, working on the Wayne Pruden Memorial Golf Tournament (in memory of an individual Wintonyk knew well), and efforts with the United Way and the Canadian Cancer Society, among others.
Wintonyk is also credited as being a fountain of knowledge about the history of North Battleford, through his vast knowledge of the buildings in the community through his work at City Hall heading up the building and licensing department.
In speaking to reporters Wintonyk explained why he pursues the community activities that he does.
"You're not 'motivated' to do it, you do it because it's the right thing to do" said Wintonyk. "When you volunteer, it's community, it's helping out."
When volunteering for the BUHF, as an example, he quickly saw the good the organization does with the money raised.
"My own mother was just in the hospital recently, and the equipment we've been able to purchase through the foundation that enriches health care in the Battlefords (helped her). It's amazing and I will support the Battlefords Union Hospital foundation forever."
Neigum, from Unity, continued on the tradition of past Junior Citizens of the Year who are able to juggle volunteer activities with academics, earning an average of 98 per cent.
He has spent countless hours of his volunteer time working and mentoring those in the autism spectrum disorder program, and also spent hours with the drama cub, New Horizons Hall and as an avid curler at the Unity Curling Club, among other activities.
His time working with those with autism taught him,"anyone is capable of anything, no matter what your setbacks are. No matter what people say you can't do, you can, with just a little bit of encouragement."
Neigum is now in his first year of commerce at the University of Saskatchewan and plans to eventually earn a law degree. He's also interested in abstract art and says he plans to start a business venture shortly along those lines, though Neigum points out school is the most important thing to him at the moment.
He brought along his Great-Aunt Sally, now 92 years old, as his escort for the evening at the head table. Neigum credits her for being the inspiration for him to volunteer, because of all the work she did in the community for different charities and organizations.
"She is the most amazing person I've ever met," said Neigum. "She's been in our community for so long and she does so much for it that she really inspires me to do good in the community."
