Province honours volunteers from across the district

Dozens of residents from across the district were recognized with Ontario Volunteer Service Awards by the provincial government here yesterday evening for their years of dedication and service.
The local ceremony, held at the Townshend Theatre, was one of 47 taking place across the province over the past months to recognize more than 10,000 Ontarians who volunteer within their community.
A total of 73 volunteers from the district were presented with certificates and pins for their contributions—contributions which amount to more than 900 years of service calculated together.
A special presentation was made to Marcine James of Emo and Margaret Rahn of Fort Frances for their 40 years of service to the Rainy River District Women’s Institute Museum, as well as to John Charbonneau and Jim Wasylenki of Atikokan, who have volunteered with the Kiwanis club for 40 years.
Two youths also were recognized last night, including Jon McCoy of Devlin, for his volunteer work with the Rainy River District Women’s Institute Museum, and Brock Bailey for his service with the Atikokan Lions Club.
Those from across the district who were recognized for their service to the community included:
Rainy River/Pinewood/Sleeman
•Debbie Ewald—Rainy River Public Library (five years);
•Terri Anne Lundgren—Rainy River Public Library (10 years);
•Violet Moore—Rainy River Public Library (25 years);
•Veronica Nordberg—Rainy River Public Library (five years);
•Gillion Stamler—Rainy River Public Library (10 years);
•Amos Brielmann—Rainy River Federation of Agriculture (15 years);
•Linda Armstrong—Rainy River Public Library (five years) and Rainy River Federation of Agriculture (30 years); and
•Leonard Larsen—Rainy River District Women’s Institute Museum (five years)
Fort Frances
•Wendy Agar—The Kidney Foundation of Canada-Thunder Bay (20 years) and Friends of the Fort Frances Public Library (10 years);
•Barbara Cousineau—Friends of the Fort Frances Public Library (five years);
•Nancy Daley-—Northwest Community Legal Clinic (five years);
•Delores Eyolfson—Halkirk Fire Protection Team (15 years);
•Orville Eyolfson—Halkirk Fire Protection Team (15 years);
•Bill Fisher—Halkirk Fire Protection Team (15 years);
•Lyle Fleming—Halkirk Fire Protection Team;
•Arlene Georgeson— Fort Frances Public Library Board (five years);
•Angela Halvorsen—Rainy River Federation of Agriculture (10 years);
•Alice Ivall—Community Living Fort Frances and District (five years);
•Steve Kosowick—Fort Frances and District Youth Justice Program (five years);
•Kami Leatherdale—Halkirk Fire Protection Team (15 years);
•Mike Leatherdale—Halkirk Fire Protection Team (15 years);
•Peggy Loyie—Fort Frances and District Youth Justice Program (five years);
•Shirley Malen—Community Living Fort Frances and District (five years);
•Gladys Payne—Friends of the Fort Frances Public Library (10 years);
•Mary Jane Pearson—The Kidney Foundation of Canada-Thunder Bay (30 years);
•Jill Pernsky—Community Living Fort Frances and District (five years);
•Shirley Stuart—Friends of the Fort Frances Public Library (10 years); and
•Gordon Taggart—Friends of the Fort Frances Public Library (10 years)
Devlin
•Lucille MacDonald—Royal Canadian Legion Br. #99 (10 years);
•Shirley Morrish—4-H Association-Rainy River District (30 years);
•Dale Stamarski—Rainy River District Women’s Institute Museum (15 years); and
•Sheri Stamarski—Rainy River District Women’s Institute Museum (15 years)
Emo
•Kim Jo Bliss—4-H Association-Rainy River District (20 years);
•Tony Bliss—4-H Association-Rainy River District (10 years);
•Helen Cates—4-H Association-Rainy River District (20 years);
•Ken Fisher--—Rainy River Federation of Agriculture (25 years);
•Susan Irvine—4-H Association-Rainy River District (20 years);
•Lori Ann Shortreed—Township of Emo Recreational Council (five years);
•Jane Tyrvainen—Northwest Community Legal Clinic (five years);
•Tina Visser—Rainy River District Women’s Institute Museum (30 years); and
•Martin Williams—Township of Emo Recreational Council (five years)
Stratton/Barwick
•Rick Boersma—Rainy River Federation of Agriculture (30 years);
•Susan Boersma—Rainy River Federation of Agriculture (30 years);
•Wanda Heyens—4-H Association-Rainy River District (10 years); and
•Mark Husser—Rainy River Community Pasture Committee (20 years)
Atikokan
•Noreen Beauregard—Special Olympics (five years);
•Nelson Boutilier—Special Olympics (five years);
•Dennis Brown—Kiwanis Club (30 years);
•Larry Brown—Kiwanis Club (30 years);
•Lauren Brown—Kiwanis Club (15 years);
•Brian Burkart—Special Olympics (10 years);
•Randy Cameron—Lions Club (25 years);
•Val Ekstrom—Kiwanis Club (five years);
•Lyse Dupere—Special Olympics (five years);
•Anna Fotheringham—Atikokan Children’s Entertainment Series (five years);
•Sharon Halvorsen—Special Olympics (15 years);
•John Herber—Atikokan Centennial Museum (15 years);
•Art Hiebert—Lions Club (30 years);
•Elva Hiebert—Lions Club (30 years);
•Faye McAllister—Lions Club (five years);
•Hilda Shmyr—Lions Club (25 years);
•Mike Shmyr—Lions Club (25 years);
•Wendy Tutkaluk—Atikokan Centennial Museum (15 years);
•Jim Wasylenki—Kiwanis Club (40 years);
•Rick Wiens—Special Olympics (five years); and
•Fred Wilson—Atikokan Centennial Museum (15 years).