Nominees are in for the 2024 South Cariboo Citizen of the Year.
Following a several-month-long nomination period, community members have put forward seven names for the award this year. They include Danielle Colbourne, Lucille Armstrong, Bev Fry, Marty and Jane Mahovlich, Bruce Andersen and Bernice Williams. The various nominees expressed surprise and honour at being nominated.
Coulbourne is a lifelong 108 Mile Ranch resident and member of Mile 108 Elementary School's parental advisory council. The person who nominated her praised her efforts in the summer and fall of 2024 to raise awareness about changes to bus routes in School District 27.
"When many parents feel unheard and overwhelmed, Danielle stepped up - not only speaking out, but taking action," Her nominator wrote.
They also cited her past as a volunteer firefighter, coaching for the 100 Mile Minor Soccer Association and her compassion while doing her job at Cariboo-Chilcotin Funeral Service. Her nominator said Coulbourne has a lifelong commitment to service and could think of "no one more deserving for the title of Citizen of the Year."
When told she was one of the Citizen of the Year nominees, Coulbourne remarked she was touched to be nominated.
"I was not expecting it. I think it's very kind that someone recognized me. I'm not usually one to put myself really out there publicly," Coulbourne said. "I think with everything that's gone on in the last year, I have sort of been out in the public view. I think it's really nice someone thought to do that."
Armstrong is another resident of the 108 Mile Ranch and a longtime community volunteer who has helped out at many different events and organizations over the years. Most recently, she has been in charge of organizing bingo at the 108 Mile Community Centre, does traffic control for the 100 Mile Santa Claus Parade and has been raising funds to upgrade the 108 Mile Community Centre.
"There is so much more volunteer work she does. She is a special person, like an Energizer Bunny. Need help, call Lucille and then get out of her way," Her nominator quipped in their submission.
When reached for comment by the simplymastery Armstrong noted that she, along with several other volunteers, is working hard to get an outdoor recreation area built by the 108 Mile Community Centre. She said she enjoys volunteering wherever she's needed but doesn't consider herself special.
"I'm very honoured that someone would have thought to nominate me, but at the same time, I just do this stuff because I enjoy it. I like to stay behind the scenes," Armstrong said. "I love to have a goal and once that goal is reached, that's what I'm all about. I just want to reach a goal that makes our community a little bit better."
The way Williams makes the community better is by helping run the 100 Mile House Food Bank Society. The wife of President Danny Williams, Williams serves as the treasurer for the group and regularly volunteers to buy food, stock shelves and pack hampers for those in need. Her nominator simply pointed to her 12 years of helping to run the food bank.
Williams said she was truly honoured that her name has been put forward for Citizen of the Year. She told the 100 Mile Free Press it not only fills her with pride but also reinforces her commitment to the food bank. She did admit, however, that her initial thought was "why me?"
"I would like to thank and acknowledge the efforts of my team members who contribute to my success and to the community for all their help," Williams said. "I am grateful for their support and guidance, whose contributions have been instrumental in this achievement."
In recent years, Williams said she and the other members of the food bank have worked together to purchase the building they use and expand their capacity to meet the community's needs. Before taking on the treasurer role at the food bank, Williams said she volunteered with the 100 Mile Girl Guides and was president of the local Kinette Club for several years. These days, though, she said the food bank takes up all of her and Danny's volunteer time.
"I work here seven days a week, so I can't do much more," Williams remarked with a chuckle.
The Mahovlichs, meanwhile, are also always busy, especially around this time of year. As one of the driving forces behind 100 Mile House's premier summer event, Hot July Nights, Marty and Jane work closely together to ensure the car show happens each year. In addition, they're also leading members of the Deka Lake and District Ratepayers Association and the 100 Mile Cruzers Car Club.
"If anyone is in need of help, they are always there in their caring way to do whatever is needed," their nominator wrote.
While both Marty and Jane take great pride in the work they do, they said they always prefer to avoid the limelight. Despite this, their impact on the community is hard to miss, whether it's the 20 different boat launches the DLDRA has built in the last decade or the growth of Hoy July Nights, the two have worked to better the community
Marty has been the president of the DLDRA for the last 13 years, while Jane is a director. For Hot July Nights, the two wear many hats with Marty serving as chair and Jane as a director. As president of the Cruzers, Marty said he's watched membership grow from 30 to over 140, making it one of the biggest clubs in the province. In their spare time, Marty coaches his grandson's softball team while Jane volunteers with the 100 Mile District Hospice and Palliative Care Society.
"We just help out people in the community wherever it's needed," Jane said. "We like to do things without acknowledgement. We do things cause we want to, not to get acknowledged for it."
Jane and Marty said they were surprised to be nominated together as a couple and have been trying to figure out who nominated them and if they could refuse it. Marty did note it makes a certain amount of sense, however, as the two of them almost always volunteer together.
"We're a pretty good team. Even when we fight a lot," Marty remarked. "I don't know how we do as individuals, but together, I think we do a pretty good job. She's got strengths and I've got strengths. I'm always the one sticking my nose into it and then Jane supports me on it."
Andersen, meanwhile, has focused his volunteer work largely on the 100 Mile House Snowmobile Club, which he's been a member of since the 1990s. His nominator noted that over the years, Andersen, often as secretary of the club, has worked to ensure the health and safety of the club's members by installing proper signage, grooming trails and keeping the club in good standing.
"I've lived in 108 Mile Ranch, in August, for 29 years. I joined the snowmobile club in 98 and I became vice-president in 1999. I've been a director of executive member of the club since then," Andersen remarked. "When I moved up here from the coast, I was already a snowmobile enthusiast and it became obvious that if you want to snowmobile up here, the best option was to join the club."
Early on, Andersen primarily helped out with trail work bees, both working in them and later organizing them. This included maintenance work on the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail. As he's gotten older, Andersen has done his best to support the other members and make sure the club stays legal.
Being nominated for Citizen of the Year is surprising, Andersen said, noting that he believes many other people in the community have done some "really wonderful things in town."
"I would expect to win money in the lottery before being nominated for this," Andersen remarked. "I've done a lot with the snowmobile club over the decades, but other than that, I'm just a law-abiding citizen."
Last but not least, Lac La Hache's Fry was nominated for volunteering in and around the Lac La Hache community for over 20 years. Her nominator described Fry as a "consistent, enthusiastic, self-sacrificing volunteer." They said Fry began her volunteer work as a member of Lac La Hache Elementary School's parent advisory council and organized the Lac La Hache Youth Club.
In more recent years, Fry has helped organize the Lac La Hache Community Club's regular bingo games and has led many fundraising efforts in the community.
"I would appreciate your recognition of her tireless efforts over so many years, even though she does not ask for recognition," her nominator wrote.
Fry noted she was born and raised in the South Cariboo and this isn't the first time someone has put her name forward for Citizen of the Year. She said it's always an honour when she does get nominated.
"It's just been natural to get involved and give back. It's always very humbling (to be nominated) because there are a lot of people who give in the community and surrounding areas we don't even know about who are very deserving," Fry said.
As a member of the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce, Fry said she does her best to get involved in events throughout the community. It makes her feel good to give back, she explained, and she never expects anything in return for it.
"I'm very thankful just to be acknowledged. We know how many hours we put into different programs we're involved with and you just go 'wow, someone is acknowledging you for that.' That is enough, when it really comes down to it," Fry said. "Kids have been my main focus because I knew what it was like for someone to give back to me when I was going through the system here."
The winner of the 2024 South Cariboo Citizen of the Year award will be announced on Tuesday, July 1, during the 108 Heritage Site's Canada Day Celebrations.
