Drumheller is truly filled with remarkable people. To recognize those who have helped make the community a better place, the Rotary Club of Drumheller is accepting nominations for the 2013 Celebration of Excellence.
Two categories are being recognized; Most Courteous Employee and Citizen of the Year. The winners will be named at an awards ceremony in the Badlands Community Facility on May 25.
The goal of the awards is to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to Drumheller.
“Some people go through their entire lives without being recognized. For the community at large to recognize the Citizen of the Year and Most Courteous Employee means so much,” said Ian Cassels, one of the organizers for the awards.
“We’ve had wonderful people be nominated and get the awards. We usually get about four or five nominees for each and they all deserve to win. It’s nice for people to get acknowledged for what they do.”
The Citizen of the Year award, which has been running since 1970, is presented to an individual who has demonstrated years of community involvement and is currently involved in the betterment of Drumheller. Last year, it was awarded to Maxine Popovich.
“I’ve been involved for a few years and there have been some exceptionally hard decisions. You have to look at what they have accomplished throughout their time in Drumheller and it’s not just that one year you have to consider, for some, they’ve stood out for years,” said Cassels.
The Most Courteous Employee, which has been awarded annually since 1964, displays a helpful and enthusiastic attitude when working with customers. They show initiative in going above and beyond what is expected of them. Keith Russell received the award last year.
The 2012 winners and runners-up for the Citizen of the Year and Most Courteous Employee. Picture are Michelle Kendell, Most Courteous Employee winner Keith Russell, runner-up Myrna Doktorchik, Citizen of the Year runner-up Trevor Gough, Citizen of the Year winner Maxine Popvich, and MP Crowfoot Kevin Sorenson.
In addition to the aforementioned qualities each potential recipient should possess, they must be nominated by multiple individuals.
“When you nominate, you also have to get a few other people to do the same. The more letters nominating them, the better,” said Cassels. “For Most Courteous Employee, you’ve dealt with them and you’ve been looked after very well. From there, maybe you could go to their boss and ask if anyone else has noticed them.”
Nomination forms are currently located at Re/Max, Scotiabank, S.J. Fashions, Co-op, Extra Foods, IGA, Riverside Value Drug Mart, or through Barb Campbell. The deadline is April 30.
“When you look at some of the names on the list, they are some of the nicest, greatest people in Drumheller,” said Cassels.
In honour of his years as an elected official, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has awarded Kneehill County Reeve Bob Long with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
