Chatham-Kent has given the nod to not just one person as its Senior of the Year, but more than 120.
Each year, the municipality honours those 55 and older who have made significant contributions to the community.
This year, the honour goes to the group of seniors who volunteered at the COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic at the Bradley Centre.
“I literally heard from a hundred people from across the community who told me how great this was,” says Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff. “I didn’t hear a single complaint. There was a lot of planning that went into this but the volunteers were invaluable in making it work.”
More than 118,000 shots were doled out at the Bradley Centre and other pop up clinics with the help of volunteers.
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance President and CEO Lori Marshall says the clinic attracted 140 new volunteers to the CKHA base.
“It’s a testament to everything that’s good about Chatham-Kent. We couldn’t have done it without them,” Marshall says.
Also honoured was last year’s Senior of the Year, Carolyn Powers, who was also recognized as Ontario Senior of the Year for 2020.
Powers has been a community volunteer her entire life and continues to contribute to the community by devoting her time to a number of causes. From her nearly 60 years in Scouting, to service club work, to drug and alcohol education to welcoming newcomers, she has been there for her community.
The awards are traditionally handed out during the Senior Expo in June, but the event was cancelled because of the pandemic.
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