North Perth Council recently awarded the 2020 Citizen of the Year and Inspiration Award winners virtually during their council meeting on April 19th.
The Norm Stirling Citizen of the Year 2020 Award was given to John Verwey, who had been a longtime Listowel Kinsmen Club member and is currently a member of the Listowel K-40 Club. He also has been involved with numerous minor sports teams, and sat on the North Perth Recreation Advisory Committee for 25 years, serving for many of those years as Chair. He also served as Chair of the Recreation Complex Umbrella Committee, where he helped council plan and fundraise for the new Steve Kerr Memorial Complex.
The Inspiration Award winners include Andrea Charest, who is the creator and leader of the progressive community initiative It Takes A Village, which tackles homeless issues locally. Also awarded with an Inspiration Award was Elizabeth Johnston, who serves as President of the Listowel Agricultural Society. Among many events last year that she organized during the pandemic was the Drive Thru Dinners, which served over 2,000 meals in a socially distant and safe manner.
A full breakdown of each award winner is available below. courtesy of North Perth:
John Verwey, 2020 Norm Stirling Citizen of the Year Award Recipient
John Verwey has resided in North Perth for nearly 40 years. Throughout this time, John has generously dedicated his time and effort for the betterment of his community for current and future generations.He was introduced to the community when he began his work career at Spinrite LP in 1978. After moving to the community in the early 1980s, he became involved in community life.
John was a long-time member of the Listowel Kinsmen Club and is currently a member of the Listowel K-40 Club. During his time as a Kinsmen, he held all club executive positions and was actively involved in several projects focused on community betterment. Many of these projects helped to support parks and recreation infrastructure.
John has managed and provided support to several minor sports teams. With his experience and knowledge of minor sports, John was a valued member of the North Perth Recreation Advisory Committee for 25 years, serving for many of those years as Chair.
One of John’s most significant contributions as a community volunteer was his service as Chair of the Recreation Complex Umbrella Committee. As Chair of this committee, John dedicated his time to helping North Perth Council successfully plan, fundraise and realize the completion of the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex.
Andrea Charest, 2020 Celebrate North Perth – Inspiration Award Recipient
Andrea Charest’s passion for helping people runs deep. For many years, she has given her heart and soul to helping those less fortunate in our community.As the creator and leader of the progressive community initiative It Takes A Village, Andrea has inspired hundreds of people in North Perth to view homelessness and vulnerability through a different lens. She has dedicated countless hours to ensuring the continued success of It Takes a Village, including volunteer recruitment and organization, sorting and sourcing donations, and fundraising. Throughout 2020, Andrea and her team of volunteers worked hard to guarantee the continued and safe operation of It Takes a Village during the pandemic, as well as help educate marginalized populations on how to protect their health.
Andrea offers her time and resources to guide and empower the people with whom she interacts, while parenting independently and pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work degree at the University of Waterloo. She is dedicated to supporting the emotional and mental health needs of the local homeless and marginalized population, whether it be simply a person to talk to or connection to other community services and supports. In 2021, she participated in a 24-hour “This Is Home” awareness campaign and February sleep-out experience, raising funds with OPP Sergeant Manny Coelho to support local community initiatives that work to acknowledge, educate and break down barriers of homelessness, mental illness and substance dependency.
Elizabeth Johnston, 2020 Celebrate North Perth – Inspiration Award Recipient
As President of the Listowel Agricultural Society, Elizabeth Johnston is a dedicated, valued and humble leader that has steered the community organization through a year like no other. Under Elizabeth’s leadership, the Ag Society was optimistic and persevered in their continued service to the community throughout 2020.Despite the obstacles created by the pandemic, the Listowel Agricultural Society was able to accomplish many community events and initiatives (e.g., Fireworks Show, Farmer’s Toolbox website, Drive Thru Dinners) and mark traditional events in new ways (e.g., Listowel Fair) under Elizabeth’s leadership. The Drive Thru Dinners served a combined 2,000 meals, with Elizabeth leading the organization of food preparation and volunteer assistance all in line with public health measures. The dinners raised the spirits of community members and allowed them to safely enjoy a “regular” community event.
Elizabeth continues to guide the Listowel Agricultural Society in 2021. Through her positive attitude and strong work ethic, Elizabeth not only inspires the current Agricultural Society volunteers and her peers, but also the younger generation.
Background on the Awards
For over 40 years, with roots in Wallace Township, the Norm Stirling Citizen of the Year Award has been given to residents who have made significant contributions to the welfare and betterment of our community.The award was established in honour of Norm Stirling. Norm was a forestry foreman with Ontario Hydro who put forth great effort to save farmland when the hydro-line corridor was being proposed.
Norm was one of the heroes of the Listowel Memorial Arena collapse in 1959. In the split second that the roof was falling in, Coach Stirling grabbed and carried two players to the ice and took cover at the north sideboards. All three survived.
In 1966, he was awarded the President's Medal by the National Safety Council for saving a man's life who was overcome by carbon monoxide. Norm also served on the School Board in the Town of Listowel and was Chairman of the Listowel Memorial Hospital Board at the time of his death in 1973 at the age of 46.
Wallace Township set up a Memorial Award in his honour. The tradition of the annual awarding of an outstanding resident for their achievements and contributions has been carried on in North Perth since amalgamation in 1998.
The Celebrate North Perth – Inspiration Award is a new award that is part of the Celebrate North Perth initiative. Each Celebrate North Perth Inspiration Award recognizes an individual who inspires others through their outstanding accomplishment or service to the community within the preceding year.