LAC LA BICHE - "Despite our community being through challenging times, it is imperative that we continue traditions when the opportunity arises."
And with that Lavon Fleming, the president of the 2021 Summer Days Board announced that Noreen Hodgins is the community's Senior Citizen of the Year and Monique Rudiger is the Citizen of the Year.
"Our community is blessed to have many others like these to ladies, and we thank everyone of you for your efforts," said Fleming, adding that Hodgins, a charter member of the Lac La Biche Rotary Club and Rudiger, a former nurse and community volunteer, share a passion for community support. "Both ladies have, and continue, to contribute to our community through spirit and the "3C's" of genuine Care, Commitment and Concern for others."
The two women join a long list of community supporters given the honourary title since the Pow Wow Days Association was first established in 1962. While the Pow Wow Days name was altered this year to reflect changing times, the Summer Days event continued with several aspects of the annual mid-summer community celebration, including a midway, fireworks, baseball games, a community fish fry, a pancake breakfast and a parade.
As she has done for the last 17 years, Hodgins was an active volunteer at several of those long weekend events. Working alongside her Rotarian brothers and sisters, Hodgins says her recent volunteer activities follow an adult life where helping others was a welcome task.
Edmonton's loss, Lac La Biche's gain
Noreen and her husband Ken moved to Lac La Biche in 1974. A stay-at-home mom, she was involved with childcare groups, parent associations and school groups. Ken was an avid leader in the local scouting movement and the family kept busy with community events.
In 2004 they helped to form a local chapter of the Rotary Club International with several like-minded community friends.
It was those connections to a group of strong community supporters that made volunteering fun, Hodgins told Lakeland This Week.
"Without all those people around me, I wouldn't enjoy volunteering as much as I do," she said. "You really do need good people to work with. That's what has kept me doing it."
A person who has enjoyed the behind the scenes world, she admits it has been nice to be recognized.
"I"m not a leader really. There's lots of other people as well who are out there doing all this volunteer stuff," she said.
With so many people around her who volunteer and support, Hodgins said she was initially surprised by the recognition.
"I wasn't sure what was happening. I said, 'Pardon me? That's exactly how I reacted," she said with a laugh, detailing her reaction when she got the phone call. "I was very surprised. I was surprised I had been nominated. I guess I've done more than I thought I had."
Although her husband passed away in 2014, Hodgins says she is sharing the honour with him.
When asked who she would select for a citizen of the year, she quickly said Sue Ward, a fellow Rotarian and close friend.
Ward and her late husband Brydon were also founders of the local Rotary club and active community volunteers.
"They have volunteered for absolutely everything," she said, adding that she hopes more people follow in their footsteps. "It's people like that who i use as an example."
While it's nice to be recognized for hopefully making a difference, it's not why she has been doing it.
"If you can do something good for your community, it's good for everyone, and that alone makes you feel good."
Lakeland This Week will have information on Monique Rudiger in an upcoming edition.
