Nelson's 'Volunteer Ten' accept kudos during Teck Community Sport Hero Awards
By Bruce Fuhr
Speeches?
A few words . . . from anybody?
It didn’t take long for Sport BC master of ceremonies Carey Summerfelt to realize volunteers in Nelson would rather do their talking behind the scenes as Sport BC handed out the Teck Community Sport Hero Awards Wednesday at the Prestige Inn Lakeside Resort.
Summerfelt was joined by Nelson Mayor John Dooley to recognize 10 Heritage City volunteers who have made long-standing contributions to their respective sports.
“Why do we do it? We do it because we love people. I do it because I love people,” said Dean Siminoff from Kootenay Christian Martial Arts.
“It’s not about taekwondo. It’s about loving people and taekwondo is just the vehicle I use and I know that’s the same for all the rest of you in your sports.”
Prior to helping Summerfelt at the podium with award presentations Dooley, a volunteer himself, praised the long list of recipients that included Minor Hockey supporter Laura Torrans, Sofeya Devji for Action Schools, former Nelson Leafs president Mari Plamondon, Bill McDonnell for hockey and his support of KidSport, Pat Wray for mountain biking, Liz Saunders with the Horse Council, Bill Harbord for his work with Nelson Cysowg’n’ Fun triathlon, Jane MacLeod for figure Skating and Mary Walters for her work with the Kootenay Dragon Boat Club.
“Each year (when I attend the Columbia Basin Trust Community Initiatives Funds) I’m just taken aback about the amount of volunteer time and variety of activities and organizations that occur in our great community,” McDonnell explained.
“As the 10 recipients here tonight we represent thousands of people in the community give back to community each and every day.”
Following the presentations to the Nelson volunteers, Roger Higgins of Investors presented KidSport with a cheque for $500 in the name of all the recipients.
This is the second visit to Nelson for Sport BC’s Community Sport Hero Awards since the program began in 2001.
