2024 Citizen of the Year – Marie Nadeau

This award is presented annually to an individual who made a significant contribution to the community with their time, dedication, and talents for the betterment of the community.   Exceptional leadership, vision and service to others were all considered when selecting the Davidson Citizen of the Year. 

If you’ve ever attended a local fundraising event, a flu clinic, library program or Cyclones hockey game, there is a good chance you’ve seen this person volunteering her time.  Any community project, large or small, there is a good chance that she’s there. Here are some of her volunteer accomplishments:    

• Swimming pool committee member
• Library board member
• Founding member of the Davidson Dance Club

Also volunteered at…

• Library summer reading club
• Library read and rhyme
• Meals on Wheels
• Health Care Centre
• Terry Fox Run
• Alzheimer’s fundraising tea
• Community Theatre
• Communities in Bloom
• Skatepark Committee  

Always smiling and cheerful – always willing to lend a hand – that’s how this community member has been described by her friends. In fact, three different people nominated her for Citizen of the Year, all telling the story of how she quietly, yet enthusiastically, gets behind so many projects in our community.     

“Marie has worked and volunteered in our community her whole adult life. She is such a friendly and outgoing person that makes people feel very included and happy, no matter what she is doing or how busy she is.”  

Please join me to congratulate Davidson’s Citizen of the Year, Marie Nadeau. 

2024 Youth Citizen of the Year – Anne-Mari Brits

This award is presented annually to an individual between the ages of five and 17 who has made a significant contribution to the community with their time, dedication, and talents for the betterment of the community.   Community and school involvement, volunteerism, positive attitude and setting a good example for their peers were all considerations in selecting this year’s recipient.

This Grade 12 student has been an active member of the Sun West School Division student leadership team for the last two years. In this role, she has been a part of the Youth Consultation team, where she worked with other students across the division to develop a website to share leadership ideas for students in our schools. 

Last year, she helped plan and host the Sun West student leadership conference in Davidson. During the conference, she shared her passion for music and the importance of cultural celebrations by playing her ukulele and singing her traditional Africans language music!

She also travelled to other schools in the division to share information about leadership opportunities and represented the Sun West School Division at the Canadian Student Leadership Conference in Ontario. 

This young person’s leadership skills are also very apparent on the court. Whether playing volleyball or basketball, she is seen always as a leader, doing her best for the team. Her strong work ethic and positive attitude serves her well as a Raider athlete at Davidson School.    

We are pleased to recognize this young person for the leadership and enthusiasm that she brings. Please join me to congratulate Anne-Mari Brits as Davidson’s Youth Citizen of the Year.    

2024 Volunteer Group of the Year – Handi-Van Driver’s

This award is presented annually to a volunteer group or service club who has demonstrated commitment to our community and has made significant contributions over the past year. Leadership, vision, community development and community investment were all considerations in selecting this year’s recipient.

This group of dedicated volunteers for the most part goes unseen and unnoticed in our community.  Our senior population relies on them for transportation, whether that is to a medical appointment, or a social outing. Some of these appointments and outings are in Davidson, but they have also been trips out of town or to the city when necessary.

Every Tuesday, our volunteer drivers pick up any seniors that need transportation and take them to the Senior Centre for their activities, and then return them back home. The last Tuesday of each month, the group is also driven to go out for lunch. Our volunteer drivers also provide the residents of the Health Centre with an opportunity to get out for different activities, from crop checking, to going on a twinkle tour at Christmas. For many years these volunteers have assisted in enriching the lives of our senior population, allowing them to stay in our community and close to their families.

We have had other volunteers over the years, but the current drivers we have are:

• Bob Bender
• Gary Edom
• Dave Spellicy
• Janet Stevens is also the coordinator for the Tuesday weekly senior outings. Calling around to see who needs a ride and making arrangements with the drivers.

Please join me in congratulating the Handi-Van Driver’s as the Volunteer Group of the Year. 

2024 Business of the Year award – Barnyard Fitness

The Business of the Year Award is presented each year to a local business which has demonstrated commitment to our community and has made significant contributions to the community over the past year.  Community investment, customer relations, service, and entrepreneurial spirit are things that were considered when deciding upon this year’s recipient. 

What started out in the owner’s basement has flourished into a successful business priding itself on the warm, inviting, and accepting atmosphere that has been created. Opening its doors in 2023, this privately owned business has made a difference in the physical and mental wellbeing of residents who take part in their programs. In addition to their primary business, this couple formed a partnership with the Davidson Physiotherapy clinic which created the perfect location for clients who need access to a modern fitness facility to continue their rehabilitation journey.   

This business has sponsored the Davidson Days Fun Run, offered Yoga in the Park, organized a fitness bingo challenge and the Turkey Burner.  From the beginning, these business owners have been huge advocates of the newly incorporated Davidson Childcare, getting behind a number of fundraisers and becoming an active member of the Board of Directors.

Chiara Traversa and Tory Allen are doing their part to help create a community that is strong, capable, adaptable and resilient!

Please join me in congratulating Barnyard Fitness as Davidson’s 2024 Business of the Year.