Duane Hicks
An ever-active community volunteer and a familiar face at the Sister Kennedy Centre here, Nick Wihnan has been named as Fort Frances’ “Citizen of the Year.”
Wihnan was announced as the honouree this morning, and officially will be recognized at the town’s annual appreciation dinner this Friday (Nov. 18) at La Place Rendez-Vous.
Coun. Andrew Hallikas, chair of the “Citizen of the Year” selection committee, said Wihnan is well-deserving of the title.
“Nick’s in his 80s, and as far as I am concerned he’s one of those guys where it should be like a lifetime achievement award for him,” Coun. Hallikas remarked.
“He’s been helping people in various forms since he was a young man. He was very, very active locally in unions—he did a lot of union work,” Coun. Hallikas noted.
“He was quite instrumental in this whole community (legal) clinic thing.
“And I guess since its inception, he’s been the driving force behind not only getting the Sister Kennedy Centre up and running, but fundraising and getting additions built.
“It goes on and on.
“He’s a really good choice. I think the committee got it right,” said Coun. Hallikas, adding there is “always so many great people around, you’re going to love whoever they pick.”
A total of four nominations for “Citizen of the Year” were submitted by the Oct. 17 deadline (the identities of the other three nominees will not be revealed).
The selection committee—also comprised of Linda Hamilton (“Citizen of the Year 2008”), Gord McBride, and Coun. Paul Ryan—submitted their recommendation to council, which approved it at last night’s meeting.
