THE NEWS
Pictou County residents who make a point of giving back to their community were honoured by the province on Monday during Nova Scotia’s 44th Provincial Volunteer Awards Ceremony and Luncheon.
Pictou’s Nina Davey was the recipient of the province’s Youth Volunteer Award.
Davey has been empowered by what life has offered her. From the age of five she has participated actively in her father’s care through his journey with metastatic thyroid cancer of the spine. At age 13 she lost her dearest friend Jeana to a brain tumour.
Davey views volunteering as a way of honouring a life that her friend Jeana would be proud of. She formed Jeana’s Girls, a group of young women from Pictou County who have come together to support and fundraise for the Pictou County Chapter of the Children’s Wish Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society in honour and in memory of her friend.
As Relay for Life team captain she recruited team members, organized meetings, events, advertising and found new ways for volunteering and fundraising to be fun. She was the top individual fundraiser at the 2017 Relay for Life events and top 2016 & 2017 individual youth fundraiser for the Pictou County Chapter of the Children’s Wish Foundation.
On top of her personal efforts for these causes she also helped her team raise enough to grant one wish for a Pictou County youth.
Davey is also well known for her community involvement volunteering with church events, Me to We Club, as greeter and tour guide at Northumberland Fisheries Museum, at the McCulloch Museum and Genealogy Centre, the Pictou Visitors Centre, as well as many school committees at her school. She has been guest speaker at the Pictou Rotary Club, Pictou United Church, the Gyro Club and Halifax We Day.
The municipalities also each chose a volunteer to recognize. They are as follows:
ALFRED AND MARY LOU WHITE
Town of Westville
Over the past 35 years Alfred and Mary Lou have been active in their community. Alfred and Mary Lou have been involved in the Westville Power Skating program for the past 35 years and have given countless children the opportunity to develop skills and build confidence on the ice with kindness and passion for the program. All those years ago they got involved by helping with fundraising and eventually became the glue that holds the program together.
Together they also help out with the Home and School and The Pictou County Rivers Association.
Separately, Alfie has volunteered with Pictou County Minor Hockey and Pictou County Rivers Association. Mary Lou is a member of the Saint Andrews Presbyterian Ladies Auxiliary and has been a Cub Leader.
PAT CHRISTENSEN
Municipality of Pictou County
Pat Christensen has been a volunteer for most of her life and says she volunteers because she loves to do it
She has been a member of the Abercrombie Community Center board since the 1970s and was instrumental in the building being given back to the community after the school was closed in 1975. As a member of the Abercrombie Woman's Institute for more than 50 years, she has served on the leadership team in every capacity.
Pat has also worked with Pictou County 4-H in various capacities including leader at the club and county levels, fundraising for the 4-H barns at the exhibition grounds, as well as President of the Leaders Council. She has been involved with Clan Donald at both the local and provincial level and has been a member of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada and has served in her local church in every capacity.
BRIAN KELLOCK
Town of Pictou
During the 40 years Brian Kellock has been volunteering, many organizations have benefited from his generous nature and technical talents. He was a coach and official with the local swimming club for 10 years and also coached the masters swimming club for 15 years. He has helped with local ringette, hockey, baseball, and with the recreation commission.
Kellock has also contributed greatly to the cultural backbone of his town by being an active member of the Kinsmen Club and Ship Hector Society for eight and seven years respectively. He’s also been involved with the Fisheries Museum, the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Project, and the Pictou Historical Society.
VANIA MACMILLAN
Town of Trenton
Vania MacMillan has helped make Trenton’s annual homecoming festival Trenton FunFest possible over the last several years. This is an important event in this small town and brings residents home from far and wide every summer. Run by a small group of volunteers, Vania has played an integral role in that group, planning and helping with fundraising efforts.
Beyond that MacMillan has volunteered her time locally for Children's Wish Foundation, Coldest Night of the Year, several Friends of Trenton Park Society events, the Multicultural Association of Pictou County's annual Fusion Festival, several events with the United Way, LifeShelter for the Homeless, and the current emergency shelter.
While living in South Korea for 13 years, MacMillan volunteered for the City of Gwangju's International Day Festival, the Youth Mentor Program, the Immigrant Women's Centre, and at the International Centre assisting with translating, teaching, and website development. She also helped out at their local orphanages, animal shelters, Rainbow Action Korea and other charities.
ALLAN MURRAY
Town of Stellarton
Allan Murray is a keen volunteer and always willing to help. He is one of the first men to join the Aberdeen Hospital Auxiliary in New Glasgow, and is the treasurer of First Presbyterian Church in Stellarton, the Stellarton Homecoming Committee and the Aberdeen Hospital Auxiliary.
For 21 years he has been a tax volunteer for the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program in Pictou County, a program that organizes income tax clinics for seniors and those with low incomes and he is presently their volunteer co-ordinator.
He is also active with Warm Hearts Refugee Group, working to welcome a refugee family from Iraq to Pictou County.
LORRAINE MACLEAN
Town of New Glasgow
Lorraine MacLean is a very giving person and has been a key volunteer for the last 20 years. During that time she has taught line dancing, volunteered at the New Glasgow Music Festival, volunteered at bowling tournaments, been involved with the legion and church choirs, volunteered for the Cancer Society, contributed to Shepherd's lunch room, Meals on Wheels, teaches lessons for the Pictou County Ukulele Group, New Glasgow’s 55 Plus Club, and helped with many church suppers.
MacLean was also a member of a musical group that provided entertainment to many of the nursing / seniors homes in Pictou County.
KATIE PAUL
Pictou Landing First Nation
Katie Paul has been volunteering in the community for the past 10 years. She turns the annual Community Christmas Party into a true community event bringing everyone together to celebrate and enjoy the special season of giving. Sometimes it is hard for the families to afford Christmas but Katie ensures that ever child gets a gift, visits with Santa and is encouraged to participate in the crafts and fun activities of the day.
Paul also volunteers as a server at funerals, the Mother's Day dinner, Father's Day Fishing Derby and anywhere else help is needed. Even as a student working three jobs she always finds time to volunteer in the community whenever she can. She is a wonderful role model and a great asset to her community.
