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Honouring a teammate
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Citizen of 2012
BY SARAH MURRELL VOICE Staff
BY SARAH MURRELL VOICE Staff
“The spirit of the team.” It’s a line from a poem written by Reese Ashbee about his hero, and friend, Issac Riehl. It’s also the idea behind a new award created by Glynn A. Green teacher Stuart MacPherson, in honour of Isaac. At a special Isaac Riehl Celebration Assembly at Glynn A. Green, where Isaac graduated Grade 8 in 2012, MacPherson announced the school was retiring Isaac’s jersey and creating the Glynn A. Green Teammate Award in honour not only of Isaac’s athletic talent, but his compassion and friendship as well. “I remember his zeal for sport,” said MacPherson, noting Isaac’s “positiveness” in encouraging his teammates is what stands out. After the assembly and the unveiling of a banner depicting Isaac’s number 2 jersey, MacPherson told The Voice the students and teachers at Glynn
Fred Disher is the 2012 Citizen of the Year. Although the Fonthill and District Kinsmen received a number of nominations for the Citizen of the Year award, one nominee stood out, Fred Disher, said Kin Kevin Twomey in announcing the recipient of the 2012 award. “At end of day we feel Fred volunteers with a passion for kindness and generosity,” said Twomey on why Disher was chosen this year. “He not only inspires others, his presence motivates others with the same caring heart he has. It isn’t just in his volunteer work, it’s the way he and Bernice run their lives, he’s an incredible individual.” “Overwhelming,” was how Disher described knowing he is the 2012 Citizen of the Year. “It’s a long list of remarkable people in town and I’m on it. It’s hard to believe,” he said, referring to the 14 past Citizen of the Year recipients. “To think someone has thought enough of what I’ve done to nominate me, that’s quite a heartwarming feeling.” Disher first got involved in the community by answering a newspaper ad looking for volunteers with the Community
THE FAMILY of Isaac Riehl, his mom Bonita, brother Jacob and dad Ted, were on hand at Glynn A. Green for the unveiling of their son’s retired jersey and a new award in his honour, organized by teacher Stuart MacPherson (right). Sarah Murrell/Voice Photo
A. Green knew Isaac as more than a great athlete, and that’s why he decided to honour the young man with the teammate award. “He was good to everybody he played with,” said MacPherson. “He was one of the rare kids whose friendship and compassion balanced with his competitiveness.” Bonita Riehl said it is special that her son has been recognized for all aspects of his personality.
“He was a natural friend to everybody,” she said, adding it is fitting that his classmates, the Grade 8 graduates from 2012, attended the assembly and stayed at the school to write the criteria for the teammate award. MacPherson said the award remembers what it is to be a teammate, and asked Isaac’s classmates to think about the kind of person they believe the award should be given to each year.
Next steps for skate park
On Jan. 29 The Aviva Community Fund presented Mariah Bunz with a $115,000 cheque. Mayor Dave Augustyn, on behalf of Town Council, added a second $115,000 shortly after.
The $230,000 was to fund Bunz’s idea for the Riehl Skate Park, in memory of Isaac Riehl and a safe place for local youth to skate. Now that the park idea has raised $230,000 what happens
next? Augustyn said a week ago that the town would continue to match any donations made to the See COMMITTEE/page 3
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Policing Committee. In the 18 years since he answered that ad, Disher’s involvement in the community has evolved from that first position. As a member of the policing committee he became involved with Canada Day celebrations and the parade, because of the police involvement in the parade. He then got a call from Al Beamer asking for help with the Santa Claus parade, which of course led to becoming a member of the Fenwick Lions. His involvement in Fonthill’s 150th anniversary celebration came through community policing, which led to his membership on the Bandshell committee. Along with his volunteer efforts, Disher and his wife Bernice have raised their nine children, seven of them adopted, and opened their homes and hearts to more than 30 foster children. Disher says he still gets satisfaction from his volunteer work and he enjoys the involvement, adding he’s made a lot of friendships in the community because of it. Twomey says society tends to look at the negative and we can often wonder ‘what’s the point?’. Disher, he says, knows there is a point and recognizes that he can help make this world better one child, one club, one event at a time. See DISHER/page 2
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