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Vol.15 No.36
The
VOICE
Reaching the Summit Page 2
Lest We Forget Pages 6 & 7
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Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Sports Pages 8 & 9
More than just an evening of volunteer recognition BY SARAH MURRELL VOICE Staff This year’s Town of Pelham Volunteer Recognition evening was much more than a way to thank the hundreds of volunteers who make this town a better place to live. It was also a discussion on how to turn Pelham’s volunteer brigade, and the many events they create, into a new economy for the community. The Town handed out 17 peer awards Thursday night along with one corporate citizen award, recognizing those in our community who give of their time and talents to help all of Pelham. Before the awards were handed out, however, guest speaker Gord Hume shared with the 200 guests in attendance how being a creative, cultural community can help Pelham generate wealth and grow the economy; provide quality public services that are affordable; and shape and reshape the community. Hume, who calls himself a “recovering politician”, is recognized as one of Canada’s leading voices on municipal government, cultural planning, and creative cities. Hume spent Thursday afternoon in Pelham, touring the town and speaking with Town Council and other members of the community to start creative cultural planning
conversations in Pelham. “You have a great community,” said Hume on Pelham. “I think it is a remarkable community with all kinds of potential.” Hume’s talk, and much of his work, is on helping municipalities turn the cultural aspects of their communities, from food and verbal stories to art and heritage, into viable economic opportunities. The traditional manufacturing and commercial industries are no longer the driving force behind communities, he said, pointing out Canadian cities need to adopt the “CRINK” economy - creative, innovative and knowledge-based.
“I’m giving you permission to think big in Pelham,” - Hume Pelham, he said, is on the right track to becoming a creative community, pointing to the urban design changes in downtown Fonthill as well as the strong base of volunteers and events they organize each year as examples. “What makes Pelham distinctive,” said Hume. “That’s the question you should be asking, the answers you should be
FITNESS
seeking.” “I’m giving you permission to think big in Pelham,” he said, explaining transforming a community into a cultural creative municipality is about thinking big but it’s something not all towns are willing to do. Hume added a thank you to the volunteers gathered at Lookout Point Golf Club, saying “your work is what makes Pelham a better, safer, stronger, smarter community.” The community members recognized Thursday night were chosen by local organizations, committees and service clubs as outstanding volunteers within their organizations, which is why they receive Peer Awards. Those recipients for 2011 include Ken Angle from the Fenwick Lions, who received a huge applause when it was announced he is in charge of the club’s biweekly fish fry; Edie Basaraba from the Communities in Bloom Committee; Carolyn Botari from Pelham Community Policing; Katie Eigner, a 40-year member of the Fonthill Lioness; Captain Lynn Giovenazzo of the Welland and Lincoln Army Cadets; Hugh Graham from Fonthill Rotary; Mike Harris from the Pelham Soccer Club; Ryan Huckla from the Mayor’s Advisory Council; Diane Kelley from the Canada Day Commitee; Carol Kitchen from the
FRANK Sicoli, owner of the Fonthill Shoppers’ Drug Mart store, was recognized by the Town of Pelham as the business owner most often cited by volunteer organizations as a local company that provides support to them. Sarah Murrell/Voice Photo Pelham Art Festival; Diana Knight from the Fonthill Singer’s Corners Women’s Institute; Anne Robbins from the Pelham Senior Citizen’s Association; David Swan from the Pelham Active Transportation Committee; Robert Yungblut from the Fonthill Lions; Bailea Watt from Niagara Centre Skating; and Jim Summersides fom the Royal Canadian Legion and Gail Hilyer from Pelham Cares, both of whom received loud applause, a sign of appreciation and respect, from the crowd.
The organizations who put forward names of volunteers are also asked which businesses in Pelham provide help and support to them - a list that provides the basis for recognizing good corporate citizens in Pelham. From that list, one business was mentioned more than any other and received a plaque and Inukshuk statue as well. Frank Sicoli of Shoppers Drug Mart said it was surprising to be recognized as that business. “We’re lucky to be
able to do it,” he said of supporting the community, noting in a small town there are few businesses non-profits can go to for support so he tries to do it when he can. Sicoli, who joked if you do it long enough they’ll give recognition to anyone, said he made it easy on himself by coming up with a rule of thumb for when organizations ask. “We do it and we always have,” he said, adding it is part of being a business owner in a small town.