The Ashcroft/Cache Creek Rotary Club has announced its Citizens of the Year for 2019, and is inviting community members to come and celebrate these remarkable people at an awards ceremony and dinner on Saturday, March 30.
David Dubois, president-elect of Ashcroft/Cache Creek Rotary, says that nominations for the Citizens of the Year—in Ashcroft and Cache Creek, as well as a youth from the region—were received from the public in January 2019. This year’s honorees have been chosen, and they are Jim Duncan (Ashcroft), Gary and Meghan Winslow (Cache Creek), and Skylar Dubois (youth).
“We had lots of responses,” says Dubois. “Jim Duncan was cited for his commitment to the community, and his work with Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society, the Ashcroft and District Fall Fair, the curling club, Soup’s On, and St. Alban’s Church.”
Dubois says that Meghan and Gary Winslow are “your typical unsung heroes in the community. They’re very low-key. Meghan is very involved with the Cache Creek Elementary School Parent Advisory Council, and Gary is involved with United Way. He’s also always available to take pictures of kids and different events, like Graffiti Days and events at the Cache Creek Community Hall.
“And after the wildfire in 2017 the were both there at the reception centre, available to greet people.”
Skylar Dubois, a Grade 12 student at Desert Sands Community School, was nominated by school staff for their work with various organizations at the school, including the SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Alliance.
The Ashcroft/Cache Creek Rotary Citizens of the Year honours have been awarded since 2006. They are sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada in Cache Creek and Interior Savings Credit Union in Ashcroft, and permanent plaques honouring the Citizens of the Year are on display at the RBC branch in Cache Creek and the Interior Savings branch in Ashcroft.
A plaque honouring the youth recipients is displayed at Desert Sands Community School, and the recipients also get plaques which they can keep.
“It’s important to recognize community members who really make our communities better,” says Dubois. “We need to celebrate them. So many people in small communities tend to be very humble, and it’s important to realize what they do, and show that people are grateful.”
This year’s awards ceremony and dinner on March 30 starts with drinks at 5 p.m. at St. Alban’s Church Hall in Ashcroft, followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The event is open to people of all ages, and tickets—which are $25 each—can be purchased at Interior Savings Credit Union in Ashcroft or online at www.eventbrite.ca. As there is limited seating at St. Alban’s the event is expected to sell out quickly, so those who plan on attending are encouraged to get their tickets early.
editorial@accjournal.ca
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