Though heavily involved in volunteering with everything from the day hospital and chemotherapy unit at La Verendrye Hospital to St. John’s Anglican Church and the Canadian Cancer Society, June Keddie never expected to be named the 2006 “Citizen of the Year.”
So when she got the phone call from the selection committee a few weeks ago while visiting family in England, Keddie was, to use British slang, “gobsmacked.”
“I didn’t know anything about it. It was a nice shock,” Keddie said Friday night after charming the audience with her grace and humour while accepting her “Citizen of the Year” plaque from 1994 “Citizen of the Year” Mark Kowalchuk and 2000 honouree Bill Gushulak at the town’s annual appreciation dinner at La Place Rendez-Vous.
“I think it’s really nice. It’s a bit overwhelming,” she added.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to know your friends feel that way about you,” Keddie said of the fact she was nominated in the first place, and the words of praise that accompanied that nomination.
“It’s so rewarding being a volunteer,” added Keddie as she gave a brief history of the work she’s done over the years—from her youth in England volunteering to be a pen pal to the son of a soldier in World War II to later working at a war hospital there.
After coming to Canada in 1957, she continued to give her time to others, eventually coming to Fort Frances in 1964, when she got involved with the Fort Frances Retarded Association.
She and husband, Jim, then moved to Thunder Bay in 1966, where she volunteered at Port Arthur General Hospital.
When the Keddies returned to Fort Frances in 1988, she began volunteering at the day hospital here and joined groups like the St. John’s Anglican Church Guild.
Keddie’s volunteer work broadened its focus when she found out she had breast cancer in 1995. She was “devastated” at first by the ordeal, but persevered and went on to use her experience to help others.
She joined the local Canadian Cancer Society, started volunteering at the chemotherapy unit here, and also got involved with the Rainy River District Breast Health Network, “Relay for Life,” “Spirit of Christmas,” and other cancer-related groups and events.
Keddie, 77, stressed all women should be aware of the breast cancer early-detection program at Riverside and be screened on a regular basis.
While Keddie was humble about all she’s done as a volunteer, those who nominated her for “Citizen of the Year” made it clear she was truly worthy of the honour.
During Friday night’s awards program, Gushulak read out excerpts from those who nominated her, including Susan Ossachuk, director of nursing practice at La Verendrye.
“My daughter [Kyleigh] and I personally experienced the ‘specialness’ of June Keddie,” Ossachuk wrote.
“Every Tuesday she volunteers in the chemotherapy unit. My daughter commenced her chemotherapy in February and received her treatments every second Tuesday until mid-August.
“June spent time with us at each visit,” added Ossachuk. “Each time, June did something special for Kyleigh—brought in movies or homemade baking, brought jokes or articles she thought Kyleigh would enjoy, knit a beautiful pink afghan ‘because people who have chemotherapy are often cold,’ and even knit kitchen towels for me because ‘mothers need something to do.’”
Ossachuk noted Kyleigh lost most of her hair because of her chemo and was to do a reading at her cousin’s wedding in July. For that occasion, June knit Kyleigh a hat to match her outfit—and had to look high and low on both sides of the border to find just the right colour.
“Doing for others is a way of life for June. She expects nothing in return—no recognition for what she does and everything she does makes a significant and positive contribution to our community, particularly among the elderly population and those whose lives are touched by cancer,” said Ossachuk.
“I believe there is no one more deserving of the ‘Citizen of the Year’ award.”
Diane McManaman, with the chemotherapy unit at the hospital, echoed Ossachuk’s praise in her testimonial which accompanied the nomination.
“June Keddie is not the only Canadian Cancer Society volunteer one meets at the chemotherapy outpatient clinic, [but] she is the person that comforts people with her warm and friendly disposition,” wrote McManaman.
“She puts her heart and soul in all that she does. Her integrity and respect for others is transparent. When someone mentions her name—June Keddie—one smiles and that can be infectious in itself,” she added.
Lorraine Currie, who works at the day program at La Verendrye Hospital, said Keddie has shown herself to be “the embodiment of good citizenry” in the past 18 years of volunteering with the program, which provides activities for isolated older adults.
“She has given her vibrant, playful, tender, compassionate self three mornings a week, consistently, willingly, delightfully. She enters a room with her ‘McBeamy’ self and smiles happen,” wrote Currie.
“She engages with each person, makes them laugh, hears their tears, and all the while tells them in the time she devotes, ‘You are important. You matter. You are worthy of my time. You still count, you belong.’
“June is deeply thoughtful of others, and has an innate, finely-tuned sense of what is needed,” Currie added. “She changes the world around her. Quietly. Unaware. She is simply being who she is. It is what she is all about.
“A mix of Mother Teresa and Phyllis Diller. ‘McBeamy’ with elegance. Timeless. Ageless.
“It is such an honour to speak our admiration and respect of the woman of substance and silliness in perfect measure. She is, to us, the citizen of the century,” concluded Currie.
Teresa Hazel, chair of the Rainy River Breast Health Network, also had nothing but praise for Keddie in her testimonial.
“I have known June since I became involved in the Rainy River District Breast Health Network in 1997,” wrote Hazel.
“Since that time, I have had the opportunity to work closely with June on various events. She always goes above and beyond as a member of the network.
“As a breast cancer survivor herself, it has become June’s mission to raise awareness about cancer and also offer support to those battling the disease,” noted Hazel.
“From parades to health fairs and walks to lunches and dinners, June is always there with her pink bracelets, pink T-shirts, and even pink bra to support and promote breast cancer awareness and education.”
Hazel added Keddie’s characteristic quality is kindness.
“She is caring and compassionate, and she demonstrates this quality through her volunteer work and her random acts of kindness,” she remarked.
“June exemplifies the fact that small things can—and do—make a big difference in the lives of others.”
Yet another testimonial was from Nell Laur, friend and fellow member of the St. John Anglican Church Guild.
“June is a very kind, generous, thoughtful, and caring person. She gives generously of herself and her time to help other people,” she said.
“She is a member of the guild and helps with fundraising events, such as dinners, teas, bake sales, the annual fish fry, and other events,” she noted. “She is also a member of the Vestry at the church and has served as a church warden in the past.
“She organizes readers for the services and makes sure everyone knows when and what they are reading,” Laur added. “She also sings in the choir when we have one.”
Laur mentioned Keddie also is a “terrific knitter” and has knit many things over the years to help funds for the cancer society, whether it was afghans, scarves, or dish cloths.
Last year, for instance, she knitted 250 pink dish cloths to be given away at the “Luncheon of Hope.”
“I have known June for almost 40 years and she is a wonderful friend. She has always been there when I have needed someone and she is like that with all her friends and acquaintances,” stressed Laur.
“I feel that June’s accomplishments should be recognized. She just gets on with things quietly and helps so many people in the community without looking for any reward.”
Keddie received a “Citizen of the Year” plaque, and her photo will hang in the Civic Centre along with all the previous honourees.
She’ll also be in the BIA’s “Parade of Lights” this coming Saturday evening.
< *c>Other honourees
Also at Friday night’s town appreciation dinner, tax administrator Ed Katona and local firefighter Hugh McKinnon were recognized as retirees and thanked for their years of service to the town.
(McKinnon retired in 2005, but could not attend last year’s dinner).
The dinner also recognized those employees who reached 25 years of service with the town. They included Darryl Crowe, Tim Grynol, Nicholas Hnatiuk, Dorian Lindholm, Brian Lee, and Milt Strachan Jr.
Past retirees and employees who previously reached 25 years of service also were noted Friday night.
The program also included recognition of spouses of deceased employees, councillors, management, media, and the 30-plus town boards and committees, which include town staff and councillors as well as citizens among their membership.
A moment of silence also was held to note the deaths of past town employees William “Toolie” Kawulia, Arvie Soderholm, and Tom (Tuck) Yuill, and former councillor Gus Lindberg, all of whom passed away in the last year, as well as Reg Wreggitt, who passed away in 2005.
Town CAO Mark McCaig was emcee for the evening.
Mayor-elect Roy Avis and Couns. John Albanese, Tannis Drysdale, and Rick Wiedenhoeft also participated in the program.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
