Gallant, Conrad to be honoured

QUEENS COUNTY – Volunteers’ contributions were recognized at the Region of Queens Municipality’s regular council meeting Feb. 13.
Council has selected two residents as volunteers of the year. Kerry Gallant of Liverpool and Carolyn Conrad of Caledonia were drawn from a pool of 18 nominations recognizing the hard work and dedication of the 22 individuals nominated over the past year through the Ripple Effect Volunteer Initiative, says a Region of Queens media release.
Several of the nominations were for couples that do much of their volunteer work together.
“Life in Queens is richer due to the contributions of our diverse and dedicated volunteers. We are very fortunate to have residents who are filled with community pride and are passionate about providing programs, services, events and much more for the betterment of our area,” said Region of Queens Mayor David Dagley.
Nominations are submitted throughout the year by members of the community for volunteers to be recognized through the Ripple Effect Volunteer Initiative, a program launched in the fall of 2015 to showcase the efforts of volunteers in Queens County. Nominees’ biographies and photographs are posted on the Region of Queens’ website, Facebook and Twitter pages, allowing the community to learn about the volunteer work of their friends and neighbours.
From those nominees, council chooses two volunteers of the year for the Region of Queens, and they receive an award at the provincial volunteer awards ceremony the week before Volunteer Week in April. The province of Nova Scotia’s provincial volunteer awards ceremony honours approximately 70 volunteers from across Nova Scotia each year for their commitment and dedication to community life.
The provincial volunteer award is a once-in-a-lifetime award. The ceremony is set to take place in Halifax April 9. National Volunteer Week is scheduled to take place April 15-22.
From February 2017 to Jan. 31, 2018, the Ripple Effect received 18 nominations, representing 22 individuals. Those nominated were Tori Benedict of White Point, David and Melinda Brown of Labelle, Annette Burke and Al Steele of Liverpool, Carolyn Conrad of Caledonia, Sandy Cross of East Berlin, Betty Ann Daury of Milton, Brian Fralic of Liverpool, Kerry Gallant of Liverpool, Chris Greatrex and Henry Liot of Liverpool, John Long of Brooklyn, Susan Mansfield of Mersey Point, Natalie McMaster of Milton, Melissa Robinson of Western Head, Troy Smith of Brooklyn, Keith and Diane Rogers of LaBelle, George (Georgie) Uhlman of Caledonia, Larry Weagle of Milton, and Gloria Whynot of Milton.
“It is always a challenge to choose from the nominees and to select just two as volunteers of the year; how can anyone determine the value of one act of volunteerism over another? They are all significant, important and deserving of the award. In the interest of being fair, we draw two names randomly,” said Dagley. “Council values the contributions of all the passionate and enthusiastic volunteers in Queens. Take a moment, and make a Ripple Effect nomination for a volunteer who makes a difference in your life, and to say thanks to those who put their heart into making Queens a great place to live.”
Go online: Photos and biographies of Ripple Effect nominees, along with a downloadable nomination form are posted on the Region of Queens Municipality’s website at http://www.regionofqueens.com/municipal-services/recreation/volunteering. Due to the high volume of nominations received on or near the deadline for nominations, nominations for the 2018 award are being added as biographical information is finalized.