Online ceremony gives Collingwood's top honour to seven volunteers

By virtual broadcast, town council and staff welcomed 2021 with an award ceremony and optimistic messages to follow the theme: “None of us is as strong as all of us.”

The town hosted a virtual Mayor’s Levee this year by broadcasting the ceremony, which includes the Order of Collingwood awards, online and through Rogers TV. 

Five Collingwood residents were given the Order of Collingwood for 2020 and two were awarded the Companion to the Order. 

“Collingwood is a strong community … our community is so strong because of the capacity of our volunteers to work together,” said Mayor Brian Saunderson in his opening remarks. 

He said he is entering 2021 with a sense of optimism buoyed by the community spirit and resiliency he witnessed throughout 2020. 

Each Order recipient was introduced by council members virtually and acknowledged their award with a video of their own. They received their awards from Mayor Saunderson prior to the ceremonies via outdoor presentations. 

Councillors Tina Comi and Yvonne Hamlin acknowledged the volunteer work of Order recipient Eleanor Burke. 

Burke is an artist and teaches art workshops as a wood carver. She has also written multiple plays for the Gaslight Community Theatre productions and worked to raise funds for the Nottawasaga Lighthouse Preservation Society. 

“I’m riding on a wave of respect and support from the community and neighbours,” said Burke accepting the award. 

She said it was her work as a children’s educator that taught her the value of giving. 

“Children taught me it was in giving one gains exponentially,” she said. “Giving back to strengthen this vibrant community has been a delight.” 

Deputy Mayor Keith Hull introduced Order recipient David Hearn, and noted his work as vice president of the Collingwood Optimist Club and a key organizer in the Optimist Club’s work to help the town source and distribute personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Hearn was grateful for the recognition and thanked his family, noting the support of the town and others makes it easier to give back. 

“I am truly honoured and actually very humbled to see this recognition,” said Hearn. 

Councillors Bob Madigan and Steve Berman announced Larry Law as an order recipient. 

Madigan said his admiration for Law was “quite real” and he was inspired by Law’s motivation of compassion in his work to build the community. Law is the owner and founder of Living Water and Living Stone resorts and has donated money, time, and space for people and organizations in need in the community.

“This award should go to my staff and family, without them, we couldn’t have done all the good things in Collingwood over the last 28 years,” said Law. “It’s a little bit of goodwill to make the world a better place to be. We call it love in action.” 

Mariane McLeod introduced Order recipient Fiona McGaw, who leads exercise programs for seniors and is an avid knitter and knitting teacher. She spearheaded an arthritis self-management program in the cooking classroom at Loblaws for about five years and volunteers with VON and the YMCA to lead exercise classes. 

“I would certainly recommend volunteering to keep yourself young and active,” said McGaw, a former activation and occupational therapist. She encouraged others to “keep volunteering and keep making Collingwood the perfect place to live.” 

Councillors Kathy Jeffery and Deb Doherty sang the praises of the final Order recipient, Marg Scheben-Edey whose volunteer work includes chairing the Collingwood Out of the Cold task force, contributing to the town’s Vision 2020 process and helping to organize Wordstock. 

“Any achievements are always the result of multitudes of people volunteering together to make them happen,” said Scheben-Edey. “Volunteer opportunities have given my life such fullness … one of the true blessings of living in Collingwood is the possibility of making a difference.” 

The final presentation of the afternoon was to sisters Carolynn and Sylvia Wilson, who were the recipients of this year’s Companion to the Order of Collingwood, which is awarded to former Order of Collingwood recipients who have continued volunteering in the community. The Wilson’s received their Order in 1987 and have continued community service as members and leaders at Heritage Community Church, and curator’s at Sheffield Park Black History Museum, and, as they say, in “deeds of kindness along the way.” 

Mayor Saunderson said the Wilson sisters are “powerful beacons in the community.” 

In accepting the award, both thanked the town and said it caught them by surprise. 

“To be recognized again … it just reassures us that we have become the people our parents and grandparents wished us to be,” said Sylvia. “For that reassurance, we are indebted and grateful.” 

The levee aired on Sunday, Jan. 3 at 1:30 p.m. You can watch the full ceremony here.