In honour of the people who go the extra mile for the community, the Citizen of the Year banquet is taking place Friday, Feb. 2 at the Western Development Museum.
Cathy Richardson is 2017’s Citizen of the Year, while Emily Simon, a Grade 11 student at John Paul II Collegiate, is this year’s Junior Citizen of the Year.
This year is the 50th year in which the News-Optimist has played a part in honouring local citizens with the award. Co-sponsors of the award are the North Battleford Lions Club and Discovery Co-op.
Since 1968, a total of 86 people have won Citizen of the Year awards. Winners have generally been from the Battlefords but the hometowns of some past winners include Edam, Maymont, Unity, Vawn and Cochin. Past winners include Eiling Kramer, who won Citizen of the Decade in 1980, and Alex Dillabough, who won the Citizen of the Year in 1984.
Past recent winners include Rob Rongve and Heath Gabruch in the same year, Tammy Donahue Buziak, and Ray Fox. Pat Gotto won last year’s Citizen of the Year award, and Natalya Shevchuk won last year’s Junior Citizen award.
The Junior Citizen of the Year award began in 1992. As of yet, no one who has won a Junior Citizen of the Year has won a Citizen of the Year award.
Every 10 years someone wins a Citizen of the Decade award. Ray Hickson last won in 2009.
The Feb. 2 event begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m., and the banquet begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30, and can be purchased at the News-Optimist office.
Below is a complete list of Citizen of the Year winners since 1968:
1968 *Dr. Ian Smith, Edam
*Mrs. Mary Cusator, N.B.
1969 - *Rev. Frank Myers, Maymont
*Mrs. Vida McDonald, N.B.
1970 *Walter Scott, N.B.
1971 *Eldon Elliott, N.B.
*Ken Nelson, N.B.
1972 Phil Ganley, N.B.
1973 *Len Quiring, N.B.
*H. James Maher
- Citizen of the Decade
1974 *Les Cameron, N.B.
1975 RCMP Cpl. Jim Mundle, N.B.
1976 *Harold Gillies, N.B.
1977 *Mrs. John Gauld, N.B.
1978 *Re. A. Marchildon, N.B.
1979 Mrs. Muriel Selinger, Unity
1980 Mrs. Johanna Sitter, N.B.
*Eiling Kramer
- Citizen of the Decade
1981 *Mrs. Pearl Balych, N.B.
*Mrs. Viola Browne, N.B.
1982 *Mrs. Laura Logie, N.B.
1983 *Mrs. Robertine Higgins, Vawn
1984 *Alex Dillabough, Battleford
1985 *Jim Martin, N.B.
1986 *Patrick Logan, N.B.
1987 *Mrs. Jean Sternig, Battleford
1988 *Mrs. Helen M. Schriml, N.B.
1989 *Miss Evelyn Brawn, N.B.
*Senator H.O. Sparrow
- Citizen of the Decade
1990 Robert MacKay, N.B.
1991 *Nora Rayner, N.B.
1992 *Margaret Francis, Battleford
Junior Citizen - Shannon Stone, N.B.
1993 Robert Colliar, Meota
Junior Citizen - Christa Jonck, N.B.
1994 *Robert Erickson, N.B.
Junior Citizen - Jennifer Olson, N.B.
1995 *Evelyn Denton, N.B.
Junior Citizen - Erin Voegeli, N.B.
1996 Neil Kramer, N.B.
Junior Citizen - James Heilman, N.B.
1997 *John Welykochy, N.B.
Junior Citizen - Dana Pasutto, Cochin
1998 Don Salie, N.B.
Junior Citizen - Tovah Racicot, Battleford
1999 *Marjorie Martin, N.B.
Junior Citizen - Annie Parkinson, Battleford
Clayton Campbell
- Citizen of the Decade
2000 *Louise Freeman
Junior Citizen - Chandra Kasper
2001 Patrick Folan, N.B.
Junior Citizen - Erin McQuaid, N.B.
2002 Evelyn McKay
Junior Citizen - Johanna Klassen Kaiser
2003 *Ruth Woodworth
Junior Citizen - Chantel Smith
2004 Laura Lawson
Junior Citizen - Geoff Shumilak
2005 Dorothy Edworthy
Junior Citizen - Tyrel Smith
2006 Bruce Lotts
Junior Citizen - Melissa Koch
2007 Gil Bellavance
Junior Citizen - Shayleen Isaac
2008 - Ray Fox
Junior Citizen - Karen Stephenson
2009 - Reine Lessard
Junior Citizen - Tyler Garden
Ray Hickson - Citizen of the Decade
2010 - Yvonne Nyholt
Junior Citizen - Taryn Jackson
2011 - Harry Michael Dekker
Junior Citizen - Lindsay Martel
2012 - Rob Rongve / Heath Gabruch
Junior Citizen - Daniel Stokalko
2013 - Jerry Wintonyk
Junior Citizen - Jonathan Neigum
2014 - Tammy Donahue Buziak
Junior Citizen - Dylan Joachim
2015 - Floyd Andersen
Junior Citizen - Kiley Elmer
2016 - Pat Gotto
Junior Citizen - Natalya Shevchuk
(*Deceased)
