Nominations closed for ‘Citizen of the Year’

With the deadline for nominations having closed Friday, the committee tasked with choosing the “Citizen of the Year” for 2003 will have some tough decisions to make in the next couple of weeks as they decide the most deserving of the honour.
Bill Gushulak (“Citizen of the Year 2000”) and Mark Kowalchuk (“Citizen of the Year 1994”), along with Mayor Glenn Witherspoon and Coun. Deane Cunningham, form the selection committee.
They now have to mull over 16 nominations—some of which may be duplicates of the same person(s)—before presenting their choice for town council’s approval Nov. 17.
“It’s a very difficult to make a decision because there’s so many good nominees,” said Coun. Cunningham, who has sat on the selection committee for the past two years.
“Everyone who’s nominated is deserving of the award,” he added.
“As in the past, it’s going to be a difficult decision,” echoed Gushulak.
The identities of the nominees will not be revealed. Only the winner will be publicly announced.
Last year attracted about 20 nominations, although some of those were duplicates.
Anyone who has done an outstanding job for the community in any way is eligible for the award. The only stipulation was that the recipient be a resident of Fort Frances and not presently hold elected office.
The 2003 “Citizen of the Year” will be formally honoured at the town’s annual appreciation dinner Nov. 21. The winner also will ride in the Santa Claus parade the following day (Nov. 22).
Jean and Lin Boileau were named “Citizens of the Year” for 2002.
Other previous recipients include Dede Mallory (1988), Albert McKelvie (1989), Florence and Woody Gray (1990), Jean Scheirer (1991), George Wood (1992), Dr. Audrey Johnstone (1993), Pastor Earl Swanson (1995), Gordon McTaggart (1996), Terry Ogden (1997), Walter Horban (1998), Jim Cumming (1999), and John McTaggart (2001).
(Fort Frances Times)