Heather Latter
Janet Loney was completely surprised when she learned she would receive an Ontario Senior Achievement Award.
“They phoned Linda Lamb, who nominated me, and she announced it at choir practice,” the Emo resident said, admitting she had no idea such an award even existed.
“I never knew I was nominated—I didn’t even know what it was,” she remarked.
But with just a few weeks’ notice, Loney prepared for a whirlwind trip to Queen’s Park in Toronto, where she was presented with the award, along with 19 other recipients, by Ontario Lt.-Gov. David Onley.
“It’s an honour,” Loney said. “I’ve never been in that kind of situation before—the government scene, the legislature, the Lieutenant-Governor.”
She said she felt like she was treated like royalty, with all expenses paid for her and four guests.
“They didn’t leave a stone unturned,” she lauded.
“This award honours individuals who have made exceptional contributions to our society after the age of 65,” Onley said during the Oct. 21 ceremony, which was telecast live.
“As I approach that age threshold myself, I am encouraged by your fine example in so many ways. . . .
“You have each found a way to give according to your gifts,” Onley continued.
“So, as the representative of Her Majesty the Queen in Ontario, thank you for the service you have given our province and congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”
Mario Sergio, the minister responsible for seniors, said the province has been celebrating the contributions of seniors for the past 27 years.
“Each year we are reminded of how much they’ve done,” he remarked.
“For every hour of every act of dedication that you make, our quality of life improves, our community spirit grows, and our province is made stronger.”
Specifically, Sergio noted Loney is a dedicated community leader who helps to support the lives of disadvantaged people.
“Janet believes in the power of making linkage to help people stay connected and healthy,” he said.
“Living in her Northern Ontario community can be especially challenging when residents need to get to medical appointments.
“Janet often drives people wherever they need to go when they have no one else to help them,” Sergio continued.
“More connections took place when she founded Emo’s Meals on Wheels program and continued with her work for the Rainy River Palliative Care group.
“Janet is also a founding member of the Assisted Living Building Committee, which looks at how seniors can stay in their homes and in their own community when they require help with every day needs,” he noted.
But Lamb said these just scratch the surface of all the things Loney has done to make her community a better place.
“Ever since I’ve lived here and known Janet, she is a person who is always doing something for others and people less fortunate,” Lamb stressed.
“She is just so generous of her time and so humble about it.”
Lamb noted her efforts also include organizing church events, sponsoring refugees, being a foster parent, visiting people in the hospital, volunteering at seniors’ manors, working as a member of the Right Relations Circle, and many, many more.
Lamb said she wrote seven pages on the nomination herself, and had another 11 people write up references.
“It was time-consuming but I really just wanted her to be recognized for all she has done for others,” she reasoned.
“I’ve got good health so I just keep going,” said Loney, noting she also is active in her church and as a pianist has played for a variety of functions.
“I haven’t done anything heroic,” she remarked. “Some of [the other recipients], they’ve done translating for different languages and another was a retired music teacher who now volunteers in a school full-time.
“I’m not on the scale,” she chuckled humbly. “It’s just that over the years I’ve been involved, I guess.”
Loney also knows she’s not alone when it comes to seniors volunteering in Rainy River District.
“Fort Frances needs to get busy and nominate people for that award, too,” she said, adding she’s unaware of others in the area who also may have been presented with this award over the years.
“But there are an awful lot of people who really, really deserve awards,” she stressed. “And they are every bit as busy as I am.
“So I think it would be really neat if it started the ball rolling and got more people recognized because it really is an honour.”
