Thanks to the initiative of city council and the efforts of local volunteers, one of Orillia’s time-honoured traditions will continue.
For many decades, The Orillia Packet & Times recognized local community champions with its annual Citizen of the Year award. However, when the newspaper was suddenly and unexpectedly closed in November, after 147 years of operation, it appeared the yearly award would be discontinued.
Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke did not want to see that tradition end. He and Coun. Ralph Cipolla brought the matter to the council table in December and council agreed, unanimously, to create an ad hoc committee tasked with resurrecting the initiative.
Just before Christmas, members of that committee – including former journalists from The Packet and former winners of coveted award – met and laid the groundwork for ensuring the award would be presented.
The committee needs your help – in the form of nominees. If you know someone who is deserving to be named Orillia’s 2017 Citizen of the Year, please submit a detailed explanation to the mayor’s office or, by email, to [email protected]. Nominees must be residents of Orillia, Chippewas of Rama First Nation, or the townships of Oro-Medonte, Ramara or Severn, who have contributed to the betterment of Orillia. Emphasis should be placed on the nominees' volunteerism and accomplishments during 2017.
Clarke said he is “ecstatic” the award’s legacy will endure. “In 2016, Orillia won the Cooperative Community Award as the most philanthropic, giving, caring, volunteering community in all of Ontario,” said the mayor. “One of the ways of perpetuating that is recognizing those who give selflessly and the Citizen of the Year Award is a great way to do that. It’s vitally important to recognize that type of behaviour; it inspires others and it improves our community.”
The 2017 Citizen of the Year panel includes former winners Anderson Charters, Cipolla (non-voting member), Clarke (non-voting member), Doug Lewis, Gini Stringer and Bruce Waite, as well as former Packet & Times editors and reporters Dave Dawson and Nathan Taylor in addition to Dr. Linda Rodenburg of Lakehead University's Office of Community Programs.
The deadline for nominations is noon on Monday, January 22. Nominations can be emailed to [email protected] or delivered to the office of Mayor Steve Clarke: 50 Andrew St. S., Suite 300, Orillia, ON, L3V 7T5.
Submissions must include the full name of and contact information for the nominator and a detailed explanation of why the nominee deserves to be named Citizen of the Year.
