Duane Hicks
“No one accomplished anything alone. It’s the people that you work with that allow you to achieve.”
Just call it the motto of Nick Wihnan, a lifelong volunteer and active member of the community who was honoured Friday night at the town’s annual appreciation, recognition, retiree, and long service dinner at La Place Rendez-Vous.
Wihnan humbly stepped up to the stage to receive his plaque from Coun. Andrew Hallikas, chair of the “Citizen of the Year” selection committee, and shared a few words.
He gave heartfelt thanks to all of the people who played a major role in his nomination for the prestigious award.
“Over the years, I have worked with many great individuals who have contributed to my success and the achievement of this award,” Wihnan remarked. “For that, I am very grateful and truly thankful.
“Because without them, this award would never have been possible.
“I would like to thank Mayor Avis, members of the town council, and your selection committee for this wonderful vote of recognition and confidence,” he added.
“My love for Fort Frances, our citizens, our quality of life, was always my benchmark when helping someone.”
Wihnan said the most recent chapter in his life as director of the Sister Kennedy Centre has been full of “great friends, great socializing, great people, and a great community,” adding seniors are encouraged to come to the centre as they “will not be disappointed.”
“In closing, I am honoured to accept this award and truly feel humble.”
“It is my opinion that Nick is the epitome, the absolute embodiment, of what a volunteer is and stands for,” said Coun. Hallikas, who sat on the “Citizen of the Year” selection committee along with Coun. Paul Ryan, Linda Hamilton, and Gord McBride.
“Nick has exemplified the meaning of the word ‘volunteer,’ not just this year but over a lifetime of service to his fellow man and citizens.
“Nick, man and boy, has spent close to 70 years volunteering his time, talents, and ability to those in need in the Town of Fort Frances,” added Coun. Hallikas.
“He has served his union brothers and sisters with dedication, tenacity, and distinction. He has served his church and fellow parishioners with distinction and generosity.
“He has served the seniors of Fort Frances with strength, leadership, and kindness. And he has served all of us—you who have lived and who live now in Fort Frances—with joy and skill, never asking anything in return.”
Coun. Hallikas provided a summary of Wihnan’s work in the community over the years, although he admitted, “The service of Nick over a lifetime cannot be encapsulated in remarks over a few minutes.”
Wihnan began working in the local mill as a teenager. By the age of 19, he already was volunteering as a union steward, then ran for union president. He was successful and never looked back.
He served as president and/or chief negotiator of his union until the day he retired, and previously was recognized as Labour Person of the Year.
From his union work, Wihnan acquired “a keen sense of social justice,” noted Coun. Hallikas, adding in the early 1970s, he was instrumental in helping to organize the first-ever injured and disabled workers’ support group here.
This group went on to help hundreds of Fort Frances and district residents who were injured on the job receive fair compensation.
As an offshoot of this, Wihnan saw the need for—and became the driving force behind—a legal clinic in Fort Frances, with a satellite office in Atikokan.
This clinic continues to help the entire district, including First Nations’ residents, to this day.
“Nick has put in countless hours of volunteer time, with no remuneration, in an effort to get these two organizations off the ground and running,” Coun. Hallikas said.
Wihnan also is devoted to his church, St. George’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church, performing maintenance projects there, planting and maintaining the flower garden there, and helping out in the kitchen.
He also volunteers his time as an altar person.
But many associate Wihnan with the Sister Kennedy Centre, which he has been involved with on a committee level since 1984. He also was heavily-involved in the fundraising to get it built.
When it came time to build an addition to the centre, Wihnan single-handedly raised the funds to get the games room built.
He has put in countless hours managing and running the Sister Kennedy Centre, never hiring staff, preferring to the do the work himself.
Wihnan also organized the first Senior Games in Fort Frances, drawing 400 people, and has organized all the Senior Games here ever since.
Out of the office at the Sister Kennedy Centre, Wihnan continues to assist people with their problems, whether they are worker compensation claims, Canada Pension claims, medical insurance plans, or any other issue involving bureaucracy.
He became so well-known for advocacy and advice regarding worker compensation claims that he received calls for assistance from people in Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta.
As well, Wihnan sat as a town councillor for seven years, served on many boards and committees, and has been “a mentor, an inspiration to many people who have, in turn, gone out and volunteered their time and effort.”
“I asked Nick what he was proudest of over a lifespan of volunteering. And his reply was, ‘Fighting bureaucracy, advocating for the underdog, and righting wrongs,’” Coun. Hallikas remarked.
“Nick’s advice to others is that no one accomplished anything alone. It’s the people that you work with that allow you to achieve,” he added.
“Never be afraid to ask. If there’s something that you don’t know, someone else will.
“Nick’s wish for the future was that he could live forever and keep doing what he’s always done to assist others, Coun. Hallikas said.
Coun. Hallikas said that, in his eyes, just a small fraction of what Wihnan’s accomplished is his lifetime entitles him to the honour of “Citizen of the Year.”
“I know Nick is very deserving of the award,” Mayor Roy Avis had said earlier in the evening.
“Nick, congratulations. It’s about time,” Coun. John Albanese said at another point.
Also recognized at Friday night’s dinner were retirees Darryl Allan, Bill Caul, Alan Eide, and Dorian Lindholm.
Employees recognized for achieving 25 years of service to the Town of Fort Frances included Kirk Armstrong (Fort Frances Fire Department, Paul LaFreniere (Operations and Facilities), Barry Mosbeck (Operations and Facilities), Frank Sheppard (Fort Frances Fire Department), and Glen Wood (Fort Frances Airport).
Employees who already had achieved 25 years of service were recognized, as well.
A moment of silence was observed for former town employees who passed away in the last year, including Garth Lockman, while spouses of deceased employees also were recognized.
The dinner also was an occasion for the town to recognize local media, members of council, the management group, and the many volunteers who sit on all of the municipality’s various boards and committees.
