Tuesday, April 5, 2011 Pitt Meadows soccer star Daniel Stanese qualifies for the U17 world cup in Mexico.
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Maple Ridge Community Foundation
Army brat’s selflessness lauded Fred Armstrong is glad he put down roots in Maple Ridge because he’s “really come to love this place.” by Roxanne Hooper rhooper@mrtimes.com
Y
oungest in the crowd by far, nine-year-old Kallan Armstrong quickly discarded his Nintendo DS when he heard his father’s name called out by the emcee. After the better part of 25 years spent working, playing, and volunteering in Maple Ridge, Fred Armstrong was crowned citizen of the year this weekend. Saturday’s announcement brought a jubilant 160-member crowd at Meadow Gardens to their feet in roaring applause, and prompted some unwanted tears from one shocked and humbled Armstrong. “I’m just so honoured. I’m blown away,” said the former TIMES publisher. “This is an amazing, wonderful community,” he said when accepting the accolades during the Maple Ridge Community Foundation’s annual gala. “A little part of me is saying ‘they might want to check the counting’,” Armstrong said, questioning if voting was skewed. “By most standards, I’m a newcomer to these parts,” he said, pointing out to a room full of many like-minded community volunteers, including many he felt “more worthy” than himself for acknowledgement. “There was at least one person at every table in that room who could have easily been up there,” Armstrong said Monday, still flustered by the attention and accolades being heaped on him. “I’m still a little bit flummoxed because there’s so many people who do great things in this community,” he said. Over the course of the past quarter century, this army brat who moved around a lot as a child has immersed himself in this town and exemplified all the characteristics of an outstanding community volunteer, and more,
Roxanne Hooper/TIMES
Spence Levan was among the first to congratulate his close friend and fellow community volunteer Fred Armstrong for being selected as the citizen of the year in Maple Ridge. said Bob Shantz, a retiring foundation member who presented the award. Armstrong, whose career has been focused in media, started as a community TV cameraman in Edmonton and moved into community newspapers in B.C. where he held a variety of marketing and advertising positions before becoming publisher. It was late last year that he finally left the newspaper business, in favour of his current post as the District’s communications manager in what he gladly calls his home – Maple Ridge. It’s not just his work in the business community, including a 10-year tenure as publisher of the TIMES, but the hundreds of volunteer undertakings in this
community that earned him this weekend’s recognition. “Fred is particularly adept at celebrating others’ accomplishments and taking great pleasure in drawing attention to those who have dedicated themselves to our community,” added Mike Murray, one of last year’s joint citizen of the year recipients. “He holds those who have demonstrated that commitment in the highest regard. It seems fitting, therefore, that Fred should be [selected] for the citizen of the year award himself,” Murray said. Currently chair of the arts council, he is also a director for the Golden Ears Seniors Society, and the Home Show Society. He was also key in the creation
of the Hometown Heroes proOlympic Torch Relay at Memorial gram, worked hard to merge the Peace Park last year – literally a Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge few hundred events. chambers, assistIn fact, foundaed in fundraistion organizers “Fred is particularly ing for the ACT, would have served on the Life normally asked adept at or Meth project, him to emcee celebrating others’ and – not one for this year’s gala, accomplishments…” but thought it the personal spotlight – Armstrong inappropriate Mike Murray has volunteered given the honour tirelessly behind the scenes on bestowed on him at the shindig. countless other projects, commitWhile Armstrong knew he’d tees, and initiatives. been nominated for the honour But it’s his work in the lime– he’s attended at least 15 of the light for which many might betgalas in the past 20 years and ter recognize him. His emceeing seen the calibre of past winners services have been key at every– he said: “I didn’t dare believe it thing from the Mountain Festival would be possible.” • More online at www.mrtimes.com, and Santa Claus parades, to click on “News” fundraising events, and even the
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