Halstead 'humbled' to receive 2012 Knights of Columbus Citizen of the Year award
By Bruce Fuhr
A crowd of 90-plus decided honouring Bruce Halstead was more important than Saturday night hockey.
Halstead, a former Nelson Police officer, was front and center with his wife Sherry at the St. Joseph’s Elementary School gymnasium to receive the 2012 Knights of Columbus Citizen of the Year award.
“It was awesome . . . it was simply wonderful,” Halstead said when asked about the night.
Halstead, 71, joins the likes of Alan Ramsden, Al Craft, Frances Welwood, inaugural winner Helen Morris, Bruce Morrison and 2011 recipient Bill McDonnell.
“I’m extremely humbled,” Halstead said. “When I look at the list of winners before me and when I looked around in the crowd I saw people who are active in the community in one way or another.”
Born in Calgary, Halstead got into public service with the Calgary Police Department.
He later moved over to the Calgary Fire Department before heading west to B.C.’s provincial capital, spending time once again as a policeman with Victoria Police Department.
Halstead, married to wife Sherry, then joined the Nelson Police Department, committing 22 years to the Heritage City force before retiring from the force in 2000.
Then after a trip Europe Halstead started the Kootenay chapter of the Romanian Relief Organization Canada and for the past 21 years has helped raise public awareness and funds for the children of Romania.
The local chapter will send its 11th container next month to the European country to help orphans, elderly and poor families.
To fill a container takes eight to 12 months. But when the container arrives it helps up to 10,000 people.
“We were hauling a few more boxes today and we hope to have the truck come (May) 7th or 8th,” he explained.
Just like Bruce Halstead to get right back on the volunteer horse after spending a little time in the spotlight.
