Duane Hicks
A 93-year-old lifelong volunteer has been named the 2017 “Citizen of the Year” in Fort Frances.
Evelyn Metke, sporting a track record of community work a mile long, was presented with a plaque and bouquet during Monday night’s council meeting.
“I’m just overwhelmed,” Metke said as she stepped up to the podium to share a few words.
“I think when you get to be 93, it’s great to be able to do all of these things,” she noted.
“I can still drive,” added Metke, who still transports fellow seniors to medical and personal appointments.
“My friends don’t know that if I didn’t drive, they’d be walking with me,” said Metke, eliciting a chorus of laughter from family members and friends in the public seating gallery at the Civic Centre.
Before presenting her with the plaque, Mayor Roy Avis listed Metke’s significant accomplishments, noting the impressive list made the “Citizen of the Year” selection committee’s job “very easy.”
Metke has been an “extremely active” member of Knox United Church and the United Church Women here, and a supporter of St. John’s Anglican Church.
She is a longstanding member of both the Rainycrest and La Verendrye Hospital auxiliaries, a founding member of the “Friends of the Fort Frances Library,” and has been a Fort Frances Lions Club member for many years.
In fact, she was honoured in 2013 as a Melvin Jones Fellow by the Lions Club International Foundation.
Metke also has been a “Meals on Wheels” supporter since its inception, and still delivers meals with the Lions Club and Knox United Church.
She remains an active member of the Fort Frances Horticultural Society and volunteers at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.
As well, Metke has volunteered at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship in the past, and has belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star for the past 75 years.
She was nominated by Mary Boucher Polz, Marie Smith, Judy Towse, and Margaret Sedgwick.
Mayor Avis noted Sedgwick sent the following dedication (a poem) to Metke, who “has lived this message throughout her life while contributing to the well-being of Fort Frances and its citizens.”
Being a Volunteer
It’s not for the money
It’s not for the fame
It’s not for any personal gain
It’s just for the love of fellow man
It’s just lending a helping hand
It’s just to give a tithe of self
That’s something you can’t buy with wealth
It’s not for medals won with pride
It’s not for that feeling deep inside
It’s that reward down in your heart
It’s that feeling you’ve been a part
Of helping others far and near
That makes you be a volunteer.
“It is with pride that council and myself recognize, as well as the citizens, Mrs. Evelyn Metke as the 30th ‘Citizen of the Year,'” Mayor Avis concluded.
“Thank you very much. We really appreciate all you’ve done for our community,” he added as he presented Metke with her plaque.
Last month, the town put out a call for nominations and received 11 for eight separate individuals.
After the Oct. 26 deadline, the nominations were submitted to the “Citizen of the Year” selection committee.
It is comprised of Mayor Avis, Couns. Wendy Brunetta and Paul Ryan, Fort Frances CAO Doug Brown, and citizens Darlyss Krienke, Rick Wiedenhoeft, and Irene Laing.
