Quite a fuss has been made about Ruth Caldwell lately and while she doesn’t necessarily enjoy all the attention, she does admit it’s nice to be recognized.
Caldwell currently is featured in Pharmasave’s Living Well magazine as a “Remarkable Woman” for her outstanding contributions to her community.
Born and raised in Fort Frances, she was both children’s librarian and bookkeeper at the local public library for 28 years before retiring in 1993.
Nowadays, the 72-year-old can be seen around town reading to day care children at the Fort Frances Children’s Complex or to senior citizens at Rainycrest Home for the Aged, delivering books to people who can’t leave their homes, or organizing fundraisers with the Friends of the Library, of which she is one of the founding members.
Caldwell also is a member of the library board, secretary of the Scandinavian Society, a member of Sunset Seniors (who perform skits to seniors’ groups), and is highly involved with her church, where she conducts Bible study.
If that weren’t enough, she also bowls twice a week, swims every week, and writes poetry on occasion. In fact, her poem, “I Remember,” won the Fort Frances centennial poetry contest this past spring.
After years of volunteering her time and energy in the community, Caldwell is being recognized in a national magazine, where she can be an inspiration to others.
“I’m a little embarrassed by it all,” she admitted. “When you do things like that, you don’t expect it to go across Canada. It’s quite an honour.”
Caldwell first was recognized back in May, when she won Pharmasave’s “Remarkable Woman” program here in Fort Frances.
About 20 women from this area were nominated by friends and family, who wrote letters describing each woman’s contributions to her community.
Pat Bird, who worked with Caldwell at the Fort Frances Public Library, wrote one of her two nomination letters. “She’s such a tremendous person, I felt she needed some recognition,” Bird remarked.
Watching Caldwell interact with the children was a real joy, she added. “She has such a warm personality, so friendly. The children just loved her,” Bird noted.
After winning the contest locally, Caldwell’s name and letters were forwarded to Living Well magazine, where she was chosen out of hundreds of names to be featured as the “Remarkable Woman” for the Fall/Winter 2003 issue, which was distributed around town with Monday’s Daily Bulletin.
“My kids are thrilled. The grandchildren are all excited about it,” Caldwell said.
Another exciting aspect of all this, she added, is the recognition the article is bringing to Fort Frances.
“I’m a hometown girl. It’s kind of putting Fort Frances on the map. That gives me a feeling of pride,” she enthused.
While people across Canada read about this dedicated and generous woman, she will continue to promote literacy and give her time to others.
“You get an awful lot more back from volunteering than what you put into it,” Caldwell reasoned.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
