Carol Reaney, centre right, was named Owen Sound's 2023 volunteer of the year. She stands alongside Coun. Travis Dodd, left, Mayor Ian Boddy, centre left, and MPP Rick Byers. (submitted photo)
Owen Sound is recognizing several citizens for their tireless dedication to volunteerism.
The city announced and honoured its volunteer, youth volunteer and senior of the year award winners during Monday night’s council meeting.
Carol Reaney was named the 2023 volunteer of the year, while Parker Davis earned the youth recognition and Joan Beecroft won the senior’s award.
Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy says Reaney was nominated for more than a decade of volunteer work with Grey Bruce Health Services. She is a retired nurse who contributes her time now by sitting on several committees at the hospital, and offering her time in other areas.
“She has inspired many others to volunteer at Grey Bruce Health Services through her voice and experience,” Boddy says.
Reaney has volunteered as a surgical waiting coordinator, critical care surveyor, patient advisor, in the oncology and day surgery departments, and sits on the hospital’s ethics and medical assistance in dying committees. She’s also involved with the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Conservative Electoral District Association
Reaney expressed appreciation in accepting the award, saying she was doing so on behalf on the countless people who volunteer in many organizations in Bruce and Grey counties.
“If we all give what we can give, the world’s a better place,” she says.
Davis, the 2023 youth volunteer of the year, has served as the president of the Owen Sound & District Junior Optimist Club for more than three years. He has helped with several initiatives of the junior optimists, including a warm clothing drive, a fundraiser for e-waste collection and support for the food bank, school breakfast programs and local shelters.
Parker Davis, centre right, accepts Youth Volunteer of the Year Award.
“They work together as a team, but Parker often provides ideas,” Boddy explains. “His sincere desire to help others is always evident. He continues to volunteer despite having completed community service hours required to graduate high school.”
Davis thanked the junior optimists, a club he says he first joined to help influence the community around him.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do this without them. They’re a great group of people, super nice and always outgoing,” Davis explains.
And Beecroft, Owen Sound’s senior of the year, was described as a “formidable advocate for human and visibility rights for the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning community.” She helped organize the city’s first pride flag raising in 2005, co-founded Grey Bruce Pride in 2006 and has worked with local schools to establish gay/straight alliances.
“Joan’s unwavering commitment to ensuring basic rights for others has helped Owen Sound become a more inclusive community,” Boddy says.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers was in attendance for the city’s volunteer awards presentations. He thanked all of the recipients for their commitment to community.
“We’re in a world where people who step forward with their own time are harder and harder to find these days,” Byers says.
Joan Beecroft, centre right, was named Owen Sound Senior of the Year. supplied photo