Irene Ashworth gets bored very quickly.
And the need to do away with that boredom is part of what led to her becoming deeply involved in the community, making her this year's Senior of the Year award winner. The 69-year-old was given the recognition through a socially distanced ceremony held this week.
"I had no clue," said the Penetanguishene resident. "I had no idea what was happening when the cars with the balloons started driving by our house. It was such a surprise.
"Part of me thought I don't deserve this because there are so many people within the community that I'm sure do lots. I do all of this stuff to keep myself busy, not because of the kudos or the award. At the same time, I was so proud and excited; it was special."
Ashworth moved to Penetang about nine years ago after retiring from her 34-year career working for the federal government in the department that's now called Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
When she moved to town with her husband, she didn't know how she would spend her time.
"I thought about what I wanted to do," said Ashworth. "And the first place I got involved with was at the museum. I love history so that was part of what drew me to it."
She has been an active volunteer and member of the Penetanguishene Centennial Museum's advisory committee since 2014, as well as helping the museum's fundraising arm, Friends of the Museum.
"I would prepare the schedule for their bingo events," said Ashworth, adding she also plays the role of Mrs. Claus during the Breakfast with Santa event at the museum.
But that didn't seem to be enough to keep her occupied, she said.
"So I turned towards the library," Ashworth said. "I've always been a library fanatic, so I started volunteering in an admin position there once a week."
She said she helps with in-house library programs, library exchanges with the County of Simcoe co-operative and mending and cataloguing books.
From there, a friend introduced her to the Penetanguishene Lions Club where she started helping with the group's bingo nights.
Most recently, Ashworth said, she has become involved with the ecology gardens where the town rents out plots.
"We turned over the two plots the Penetang Lions Club rented and we've planted vegetables there," she said. "We will harvest whatever we can to be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Society that manages the local food bank."
Ashworth said she's met lots of "lovely and wonderful people," through all her volunteer work.
"It's a great way to get to know the community," she noted. "There are so many things you can do within the community and be rewarded for it by the service you provide. It's good to have volunteers servicing the people that live around you."
Mayor Doug Leroux read from her letter of nomination during this week's council meeting.
"It is easy to see that Irene Ashworth has been and continues to be a valuable and instrumental volunteer, who brings many years of work experience, ideas and energy to all tasks that she tackles," he said. "She has developed a vast pipeline of contacts through her activities. She works well with others as well as individually.
"She is a great supporter of our community events (both) social and cultural. She does the mundane as well as the glory tasks and we are thrilled that she has chosen to call Penetanguishene home."
Ashworth said if she didn't get involved in volunteering, she'd be pretty much house-bound and spend most of her time watching TV or tinkering on the computer.
"I think it's important that people recognize that seniors have a place in the community and they're still worthy of being involved," she said. "To be out there as a senior and be active and involved lets people know that seniors are important and still have a lot to give."
