Joella Bevan, Fort Macleod’s Citizen of the Year in 2020, was a guest speaker Thursday at Fort Macleod Library during its Alberta Culture Days event.
Joella Bevan wasn’t looking for public accolades as a willing volunteer in Fort Macleod.
So when Bevan was named 2020 Citizen of the Year, it came as a surprise.
“I was shocked getting the nomination for it,” Bevan said. “I was floored when I won.”
Bevan discussed the Citizen of the Year Award on Thursday at Fort Macleod Library, where she was a guest speaker at the Alberta Culture Days event.
Nominations are based on a person’s volunteerism, citizenship and community service.
“We simply cannot function without volunteers,” the library’s Tina Smith said as she introduced Bevan. “We simply can’t. They are the backbone of keeping things going.”
Bevan’s volunteerism included working at fund-raising casinos for Fort Macleod organizations.
Bevan volunteered with the Willow Creek Wilderness Walk Run organizing committee, serves on the Fort Macleod Golf Club board, Fort Macleod Triathlon, Santa Claus Parade, pandemic birthday parades and Fort Macleod Sharks Swim Club.
“Joella embodies the traits that were sought in the Citizen of the Year,” Smith said.
Volunteering with groups and on projects that benefit Fort Macleod came with personal rewards.
“Volunteering and helping, you get to meet different people, you get to learn their heritage and learn more about them,” Bevan said. “It’s really fascinating.”
Although surprised to be named 2020 Citizen of the Year, Bevan enjoyed the experience.
“It’s been an honour and I’ve got to know a lot of people in town,” Bevan said. “It really gets me out a lot.”
The Citizen of the Year Award is presented as part of the awards program run by Fort Macleod Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber is accepting nominations until Friday, Sept. 30 for a variety of awards.
The Chamber presents awards to the Citizen of the Year, Junior Citizen of the Year, Outstanding Business, Small Business, Large Business, Agricultural Business, Home-based Business, Community Enhancement, Customer Service, New Business and Employee Service.
Nominations, which must include background information on the nominee, are being accepted until Friday, Sept. 30.
Rebecca Neels was the 2021 Citizen of the Year and Lydia Nelson was Junior Citizen of the Year.:
Other award recipients last year were The Macleod Gazette, Business Excellence; Prairie View Homes, Outstanding Business; Fort Macleod Vet Clinic, Large Business; Little Red Quilt Shack, New Business; Crazy Stitch, Small Business; My Oma Always Canning Co., Home Based Business; Van Driesten Harvesting, Agricultural Business; Coralee Markland, Employee Service; Dona Bengston of Twisted Hummingbird, Customer Service; and Angie O’Connor, Community Enhancement.
Nominations can be entered through the Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
