Duane Hicks
A long-time volunteer and founding member of several local charities and events, Linda Hamilton was honoured by the Town of Fort Frances as the 2009 “Citizen of the Year” at its annual appreciation dinner Friday night at La Place Rendez-Vous.
But Hamilton, the town’s 21st “Citizen of the Year,” made it clear she was humbled to receive the title.
“As I look around, I can’t tell you how many people deserve this more than I do,” she told those on hand.
“I have accomplished nothing as a volunteer by myself. It’s always been in a group,” Hamilton stressed. “From the time I spent on the board with Riverside . . . with those like Joan Allison and Larry Cousineau, to the Canadian Cancer Society with Gordon Ross and Elsie Cameron, on to the Fort Frances ‘Community Chest’ with George and Linda Blanc, all the Lions Clubs, Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, ‘Spirit of Christmas’ committee, the Legion, and the wonderful women’s symposium with the Lampi sisters and Jan Beazley and a whole host of new young women that I had a great time working with.
“We are going to do more with our women’s health symposium I hope.”
Hamilton also acknowledged her “flexible family and workplace” who have encouraged and helped her along the way.
“You wouldn’t believe what my office looks like [prior to the] ‘Spirit of Christmas,’” she remarked. “My boss, Dave Kircher, calls it the ‘Royal We’—Linda gets into something and we all get to do it.”
Hamilton recalled she was born and raised in Fort Frances, but left for eight years after getting married to her husband, Bob. Then they returned here to raise their two sons, Todd and Scott, and daughter, Lindsay, and to be close to family and Rainy Lake.
“This town has been very good to us, and I see it as my responsibility to return something to my community,” she said. “Besides that, I get a great kick out of the things I’m involved in, none of which, by the way, are elected positions.
“And I have the greatest respect for volunteers who choose elected positions. They are exposing themselves to criticism much more than I ever do, and I applaud them for that.”
Hamilton said a friend recently sent her a card with a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that summed up how she feels about volunteerism. It said: “The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.”
Hamilton was presented with the “Citizen of the Year” plaque by Mark Kowalchuk (“Citizen of the Year 1994”).
Kowalchuk, who comprised the “Citizen of the Year” selection committee along with Mayor Roy Avis, Coun. Sharon Tibbs, and Bill Gushulak (“Citizen of the Year 2000”), said Friday night that Hamilton “has made an appreciable difference through her efforts.”
“Linda Hamilton has been active in a variety of initiatives and has been the common thread that weaves its way through the list I would now like to share with you,” he noted, adding Hamilton has been chair of the Northwestern Ontario Cancer Society, president of the Canadian Cancer Society, and has chaired (and remains active in) the highly-successful “Relay for Life” fundraiser.
She also is involved in door-to-door canvassing in support of the fight against cancer, has been a board member of the “Luncheon of Hope,” has been a board member of the local Salvation Army (for which she also has canvassed), a board member of Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. for six years, and a board member of the Riverside Foundation for Health Care for nine years.
“Not only has Linda been active in the established organizations already mentioned, but she also has been a driving force in seeing the establishment of new support groups,” added Kowalchuk, noting these include the “Spirit of Christmas,” “Community Chest,” and Women’s Health Symposium.
“Not only did she help in the creation of these groups, but she has been—and continues to be—extremely active in their ongoing activities,” he said.
Other honourees
Also at Friday night’s dinner, which was emceed by Darryl Allan, two retirees were recognized and thanked for their years of service to the town. They included Loreen Holt of the Fort Frances Children’s Complex and firefighter Bob Tkachuk.
As well, the dinner recognized those employees who reached 25 years of service with the town. They included deputy treasurer Debbie Scofield, as well as David Martin and Curtis Wickstrom of Public Works.
Past retirees and employees who previously had reached 25 years of service also were noted Friday night.
The program also included recognition of spouses of deceased employees, councillors, management, media, and the 30-plus town boards and committees, which are made up of town staff, councillors, and citizens.
A moment of silence also was held in memory of town employee Tim Grynol, who passed away earlier this year.
