The 2023 Mayor’s Honour List has been announced.
“The list, as always, is a highly personal list, based on my own observations throughout the year in the community, nominations from citizens and media stories,” Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said in a news release. “The list is a tribute to the unsung people and groups in the community who make a difference in trying to create a good and just community and society.
“lt is living proof that individual citizens and groups can make a difference.”
The Mayor's Honour List was established by the late Mayor Marceil Saddy in 1981 to honour citizens and groups in the community or surrounding area who have been instrumental in improving the quality of life or making a significant contribution to the City of Sarnia and Lambton County.
This year marks the 42nd Honour List. (No list was presented in 1988.)
The honourees are:
BILL ABERCROMBIE
Bill Abercrombie stepped away from his role as President of the Sarnia Sting organization after nearly 25 years. Bill began his affiliation with the team on their arrÍval in 1994 from Newmarket as an Assistant Coach until L994. He then became Assistant Coach and then Coach of the Sarnia Blast/Legionnaires, leading them to the Western Junior B Championships in 2009. Bill continued his career with the Sting, serving as VP of Hockey Operations and in 2014 becoming President. Sting team owner David Legwand praised Bill for his business and hockey experience, connections and passion for this community which laid the building blocks for the growth of the team. "He has given this team, city and its sports community so much over his career and has positively impacted so many along the way."
MARGARET CAPES
A retired lawyer, for many years Ms. Capes has dedicated herself to helping poor and marginalized people. Margaret continues to be a strong advocate for the homeless and those needing shelter and other assistance who are living on the streets of Sarnia.
JANINE DAY
The year 2023 marked Janine's second season as Coach of the Lambton Lions Women's Basketball team. She was named the Ontarío Colleges Athletic Associations Women's Basketball Coach of the Year. Janine’s commitment and understanding of the game were major factors in her being gíven this honour. Janine began playing basketball and coaching at Northern Secondary School. She went on to study kinesiology at York University where she earned her coaching certificate. This year the Lambton Lions won a silver medal at the OCAA Championships. This was the first time the Lions won a top-level medal in women's basketball. "This award is a reflection of her tireless efforts year-round."
DICK FELTON
During Mr. Felton's time as a member of the Kiwanis Club of Sarnia-Lambton Golden K he has been Club president twice and was instrumental in establishing a Builders Club and an Aktion Club which focuses on improving the lives of children and youth in our community. Mr. Felton is the heart and soul of the Club and works tirelessly to ensure its long-term success. During COVID, to ensure members could keep on meeting, he set up Zoom capabilities and the Club did not miss a single meeting while other clubs were shut down for months. In 2020 Dick volunteered to assume the position of Executive Director of the Lochiel Kiwanis Community Centre. During the last three years he has dramatically improved the operation of the Centre, through management of the nine tenants who are largely non-profit and focus on children and youth. He has worked with the City to undertake renovations to the building and maintain the adjacent McGibbon Park. The Kiwanis Centre is now at full capacity, numerous upgrades have been made to the building and the rental of the Kiwanis room has increased. He has done all this without being paid. The Golden K is convinced that without his unselfish dedication and commitment the Centre would possibly not have survived.
MARILYN GIFFORD
Ms. Gifford has worked tirelessly in her goal of collecting 1,000 signatures on a petition calling for local physician residency spaces to assist Lambton County in attracting more family doctors. Marilyn, with the support of Lambton County Council, believes offering residency spaces in Lambton County, particularly for graduates of medical schools outside of Canada, could go a long way to resolving Canada's doctor shortage. Ms. Gifford is hoping to see a pilot program created that would bring medical residency spaces to Lambton County to assist more medical school graduates to become family doctors. She has been praised for her strong grassroots advocacy. It is Ms. Gifford's belief that "if we raise our voices, and we make our voices heard, we can solve this problem."
INTERNATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - ANTHONY WING. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The International Symphony Orchestra is a unique example of musical efforts between two communities (Sarnia and Port Huron) located in two countries. The orchestra, which celebrated its 65th Anniversary in 2023, is composed of musicians who are also full-time engineers, teachers, doctors, nurses, and homemakers. The orchestra is valuable to the Sarnia-Lambton area not just for its music but culturally, educationally, economically, socially, and spiritually. Sarnia-native Anthony Wing became Executive Director of the ISO in 2019. Mr. Wing studied music at McGill University and then political science at Western University in the 1990s. During the pandemic from 2020 to 2023 Anthony skillfully guided the ISO through these difficult times with the ISO remaining strong. During this time the ISO found a new office location in downtown Sarnia and has become involved with other cultural agencies in Sarnia. The ISO remains the only international symphony in Canada.
MARG JOHNSON
Mrs. Johnson, a retired child and youth worker, is the organizer/co-ordinator of Kids' Konnection – a program offered to help children in grades 1 to 6 make up their reading skills which were interrupted during the pandemic. The church outreach program matches kids with adult mentors who read for 30 minutes a week during evening sessions at London Road Church. Readings are now offered in French as well following requests from families of French immersion students. Mrs. Johnson noted she ís seeing great improvements in the reading skills of students who have participated in the program with their skills advancing by at least one grade level. Mrs. Johnson has distributed informational material about the program to 25 churches in the area in the hope others will consider offering it. It is emotional to hear from the students about how much the program helps them with their reading skills.
LABOUR DAY PARADE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Sarnia's Annual Labour Day Parade is the longest-running parade in Canada. Arlene Patterson has been taking the lead on the organizing committee, each year seeking volunteers to help with the parade. She co-ordinates numerous planning meetings, assigns tasks to the committee members and recruits additional volunteers to help on the day of the parade. Under Arlene's guidance "she is the one that makes sure the people are where they need to be--not a small task."
LARISSA LOUCKS
Larissa decided at age seven she wanted to become an artistic swimmer and from that moment she became a tenacious competitor with a strong work ethic and determination to excel . In 2023, at age 16, Larissa and her team won the Junior Free Team event at the Canadian Artistic Swimming Championship in Calgary. Larissa's parents, Doug and Corinne, made sure their daughter got to her practice four times a week. In the beginning she was a member of the London Artistic Swimming Club where she was a member of the Provincial team at age 11 and then she went on to Waterloo where she has trained and competed nationally since age 12. Two-time Olympian in artistic swimming, Jacqueline Simoneau, has become Larissa’s mentor and marvels at her resiliency and dedication to 20 hours a week training. A close family friend, Adrienne Arsenault, CBC Chief Correspondent who has covered seven Olympics, describes Larissa as someone who “has the heart of an Olympian but there is no pretense about her. She's already accomplished more than most of us could dream of, but she doesn't make a big show about it."
HEATHER MARTIN, JOHN DEGROOT, MICHAEL JOHN KOOY, BRIAN MUNDT
This group of Sarnians, who are members of the Rotary Club of Sarnia, came together in 2023 to undertake the task in finding locations for and the building of affordable housing in Sarnia. This dedicated group has met with numerous people in the community, the City, County, Province, Federal Governments. It is realized that much more needs to be done but they are ready for the task. In a very short period, they have made many accomplishments-engaged help, support and guidance from numerous people associated with the building of affordable housing; established charitable foundations at Sarnia Community Foundation and Rotary Club of Sarnia Foundation; held fundraising events (Mackinac Breakfast Extravaganza, banana bread bonanza to name just a few) and planning is currently underway for 2024 events. This group is to be admired and recognized for their dedication and perseverance in wanting to see that shelter is provided for those in need.
HAROLD (HAL) REGNIER (POSTHUMOUSLY)
Mr. Regnier, who passed away from a sudden and unexpected illness in February 2023, was involved with many organizations in Sarnia. He was a faithful volunteer and supporter of Canadian Red Cross as a patient driver; Sarnia Humane Society as a dog walker and a former Board member; inpatient support worker with St, Joseph's Hospice who also participated in a fundraising cycle trip from Fort Myers, Florida to Sarnia; volunteered with the Sarnia phragmites exterminator program; and assisted each year with the Salvation Army Christmas Hamper Programme. For 35 years Hal was an avid cyclist, "going green before it was cool", cycling to/from work when the weather allowed and was a great promoter of safe cycling in Sarnia. His friends noted there is no doubt Hal would have continued his good work in making Sarnia a great place to live.
LAURIE ROME
Laurie has been involved with the Terry Fox Run in Sarnia for over 40 years having been a tireless lead Co-ordinator for the past 14 years. Over the years Laurie has tried numerous and creative ways to fundraise and engage the community-everything from a silent auction, a garage sale, face painting, selling t-shirts and having the Sarnia Sting players participate at the run. She is always willing to try new and fun ideas. Sarnia Lambton has responded generously, and the fundraising is top notch in the Sarnia community. Laurie's dedication, enthusiasm and encouragement is contagious and an inspiration to the rest of the committee members. A fellow Committee Member commented that Laurie says she has continued to be involved in the Terry Fox Foundation for 'selfish reasons.' She 'wants a cure found in her children and grandchildren's' lifetime.' Realistically she does it for Terry and everyone because she wants to keep his dream alive-a lifetime without cancer.
MARK SEIBUTIS & COPA FLIGHT 7
Volunteers from the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA Flight 7) for many years now have provided fly pasts for all Remembrance Day Services in Sarnia and surrounding area. The fly pasts are organized by this group who feel it is an honour and privilege to do so. People in attendance at the Remembrance Day services are very grateful that COPA Flight 7 continues to be part of this day with this special tribute.
DON AND LAURENE SMITH
Don and Laurene are very community-minded and generous people who over the years have quietly supported numerous local charities, never wanting recognition for themselves, personally or professionally. An example of the organizations they have supported include Inn of the Good Shepherd, Literacy Lambton, Women's Interval Home, Habitat for Humanity, Pathways, and Rivercity Vineyard, to name a few. Whenever there is a call for help or a need in the community, you can be assured they are giving of their time or support to that need, A friend says of Don and Laurene -"they embody what it is to be kind and good people."
MURRAY AND GWEN STEPHENSON
Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson are Directors of "Nightlight" an adult drop-in centre located in downtown Sarnia. March of 2023 marked the first anniversary of the centre which welcomes people who are experiencing homelessness, seniors who are lonely, new immigrants to the area and international students. Refreshments, conversation, and the building of relationships are offered at the centre. Demand has been steadily increasing and the centre has expanded their hours to meet that demand. There are 40 volunteers who assist the Stephensons in helping those in need. Mr. Stephenson notes "our mission is to create a safe place for people, a sense of community and belonging."