Duane Hicks
Well-known for working diligently in the background for the simple pleasure of making life more enjoyable for themselves and others, sisters Florence Hill and Jane McLeod officially were honoured as the “Citizens of the Year 2013” here Monday night.
“I want to thank everybody for helping us,” Hill said after she and her sister—dedicated life-long volunteers in the community—were presented with plaques by Mayor Roy Avis.
“This has been such a big honour to us,” she added. “I want to thank my family and everybody that knows me.
“Just don’t say a bad thing yet,” Hill joked.
“I want to thank everybody, too,” echoed McLeod. “It sure is quite an honour.”
Irene Laing and Angela LaForest each spoke on why they felt the sisters were deserving of the honour.
“Jane McLeod and Florence Hill are super volunteers with several organizations in Fort Frances,” noted Laing, who had nominated the sisters on behalf of herself and her sister, Janet Lambert.
He also said it wasn’t until after this year’s “Citizens of the Year” were announced that they discovered LaForest, who lives three doors down from her, also had nominated Hill and McLeod.
McLeod, who will turn 94 in December, and Hill, 88, both were born in Fort Frances and have lived here all of their lives.
They’ve raised their families here, noted Laing, adding their children, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren still live in Fort Frances.
“Both ladies are life members of the Legion Auxiliary, and still active members and attend
every meeting,” added Laing.
“Jane has been a member for over 60 years and Florence for 30 years.
“As volunteers, they spent many hours working in the kitchen, serving, washing dishes at catered events and monthly suppers,” she noted.
“I belong to the Legion and let me tell you, we are busy people,” said Laing. “Jane served as sergeant-at-arms and Florence has been [the sick-and-visiting] chair.
“They’ve sold poppies, marched in parades, baked, and worked at many Remembrance Day teas,” she continued.
“They currently serve pie and ice cream at our monthly supper, and we affectionately know them as ‘The Pie Ladies.’”
Both Hill and McLeod are life members of the La Verendrye Hospital Auxiliary—Hill for 29 years and McLeod for 28.
“They’ve worked at tag days, done more than their share of baking, helped out at the Continuing Care Christmas party and staff appreciation teas,” noted Laing.
“They’re a fixture at the ‘Strawberry Social’ and every year, even now, you can see them with their little mop hats and strawberry aprons serving strawberries and cake,” she added, noting they’re also in the kitchen and serving during the auxiliary’s fall tea.
And the sisters still push the goodie cart around the hospital every Wednesday afternoon, “making the time for a friendly visit with the patients along the way.”
“Their friendly and pleasant attitude is evident in their unfailingly high sales,” said Laing.
“These two ladies have the best sales record of anyone.”
The sisters also are active members of their churches. McLeod, as a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, serves on the lunch committee, has been a member of the C.W.L. of Canada for 60 years, and always helps with teas and bazaars.
Hill is a member of St. John’s Anglican Church, where she looks after the altar, belongs to the vestry, and is a lifetime member of the Anglican Church Women of Canada.
Hill also is a lifetime member of the Rainycrest Auxiliary, where she has looked after Bingos, welcomed new residents, works in the shop, does baking, and volunteers at the teas.
“Between them, these two ladies have provided the community with countless hours of selfless volunteering, always smiling and always pleasant,” Laing remarked.
LaForest said that while she and Laing didn’t collaborate prior to submitting their nominations, they discovered they were of the same mindset in nominating Hill and McLeod.
“We realized that many citizens are recognized for their outstanding contribution to the community and rightly so,” said LaForest.
“However, citizens such as Jane and Florence work diligently in the background for the simple pleasure of making life more enjoyable for themselves and for others,” she noted.
“Their recognition seems to come from a personal feeling of a job well-done.
“We feel that Jane and Florence exemplify all of the unsung, devoted seniors, especially women, who are the mainstay for bringing comfort and services to our community centres, not to mention the great contribution they make to the fundraising aspect of volunteering,” added LaForest.
“Witnessing the determination of Jane and Florence, at such an advanced age, to continue doing an exceptional job for Fort Frances qualifies them as most eligible to recognized as Fort Frances’ ‘Citizens of the Year.’”
Mayor Avis also saluted Hill and McLeod.
“On behalf of council and the citizens of Fort Frances, I’d like to congratulate you on receiving this award,” he said.
Mayor Avis noted it’s appropriate that the award go to two women “who have done so much for the community,” adding their “tireless efforts” are well-known.
The mayor also thanked the “Citizen of the Year” selection committee, consisting of Gord McBride, Linda Hamilton, Nick Wihnan, and Couns. Andrew Hallikas and Paul Ryan, who had their work cut out for them having to review 12 nominations.
