The efforts of two dedicated and passionate volunteers and an organization devoted to protecting land and habitat in our region were honoured Monday night at City Hall.
Cassidy Byers, Alice Stamper and the Couchiching Conservancy were awarded the 2018 Order of Orillia by Mayor Steve Clarke and the Orillia’s Commemorative Awards Committee (OCAC) at the beginning of this week’s city council meeting.
“Since the year 2000, we have recognized individuals and groups that have dedicated time and effort in bettering our community through volunteerism,” said Clarke. “The Order of Orillia is an honour we bestow on residents that enrich the lives of others through a decade or more of service and serve as shining examples in our community.”
Byers, 17, began her volunteerism at an early stage, said OCAC member Betsy Gross.
“Cassidy was still shy of her seventh birthday when she (began) to volunteer to sell daffodils for the Canadian Cancer Society,” said Gross.
Before she was finished her first year of high school at Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School, she had already completed her community involvement requirements.
She was a member of student council at both Warminster Public School and Patrick Fogarty and sits on the music council at Fogarty but still found time to help with the Relay for Life, the Rotary International Youth Exchange Program and also volunteered with the Orillia Figure Skating Club, Orillia Canada Day Committee, Orillia Public Library and Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital.
On top of that, Gross noted, Byers plays piano for seniors at a local seniors’ home, is an active participant in Operation Christmas Child and volunteered for Jill Dunlop’s successful provincial election campaign.
Stamper was recognized for her four-plus decades of volunteerism with the Canadian Cancer Society, the Girl Guides of Canada, and the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Luke’s Church.
She has also volunteered for more than 40 years at ODAS Park, working with youth and patrons at the Roller Rink and also played a key role co-ordinating food concessions and volunteers at the Orillia Fall Fair, noted Paul Raymond, chair of OCAC.
“She has a no-nonsense attitude delivered with fairness as many young and older patrons know as she watched over them as they enjoyed many fun-filled hours at the roller rink,” said Raymond. “As I’ve said, she was conscientious and she was stern and I can say that as she babysat me 65 years ago.”
Stamper has also helped with the Santa Claus parade and the Orillia Lynx Squadron, Scottish Festival, Canada Day and, for 22 years, has been a “valued volunteer” at OSMH, “devoting endless hours visiting and sharing with hospital patients, often filling in at short notice when others aren’t available.”
Doug Christie, the president of the Couchiching Conservancy’s board of directors, accepted the Order of Orillia on behalf of the organization. Dozens of members of the local land trust were on hand for the presentation.
The local non-profit organization has helped protect more than 13,000 acres of ecologically significant land in the Orillia region; some of which have globally recognized rare ecosystems, species and natural habitat for wildlife, flora and fauna.
“I have never seen an organization work together so well,” said OCAC member Ted Duncan of the conservancy, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. “Staff, over 250 members and over 300 volunteers look after 13,000 acres in our area. Through protection of those lands, a lot of wildlife has been protected and we need to do that.”
