It was a night to honour the 2012 co-Citizens of the Year and the new Junior Citizen of the Year Friday in North Battleford.
Both co-Citizens Rob Rongve and Heath Gabruch and Junior Citizen Daniel Stokalko received their award plaques at the annual banquet at the Tropical Inn.
On hand were their families and friends, as well as many others from across the community who were at the banquet to pay tribute. Pictures of the 2012 honorees are now on display at the permanent Citizen of the Year Wall inside the Territorial Place Mall, where past citizens are also permanently honoured.
It was an excited and nervous Stokalko who accepted his Junior Citizen of the Year honours. He told reporters later, "I was exceptionally nervous. I kind of just blacked out during my speech a little bit, kind of recovered a little bit, and then it was over!"
He was honoured both for his leadership and involvement in both school and community activities. Among those have been school activities in baking and cake decorating, participation in the Debate Club and Karaoke Club, and leadership with the SRC at North Battleford Comprehensive High School. Outside of school, he has been a volunteer at Ukrainian Greek Orthodox churches and the Zorya Ukrainian Dance Club, as well as with the BUH Foundation and the Rotary Club.
In his speech Stokalko said he "never expected to receive an award of this magnitude in my life." He referred to a quote from Mahatma Gandhi that he said sums up the life he's lived to this point: "I shall pass through this world but once. Any good I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it, let me not defer or neglect it. I will only pass once."
Stokalko has been accepted into arts and sciences in the University of Saskatchewan. He told reporters he plans to eventually study pharmacy or nursing in preparation for a career in the health field. Ultimately, he hopes to return to the Battlefords.
"I have so much connection to this town. I know the people; the people know me," Stokalko said.
Rongve and Gabruch were honoured jointly as co-Citizens of the Year for their leadership of the successful $10 million CUPlex fundraising effort, as well as their other community contributions over the years with the Chamber of Commerce, the Immigration Resource Centre, the Battlefords and District Community Foundation, and elsewhere. The two are also in business together at RBC Dominion Securities.
At the banquet, they noted the latest project they are involved with is organizing a gala presentation at the Dekker Centre on May 8 featuring comedian Shaun Majumder.
The event will raise money for the Dekker Centre itself. A number of people involved in the CUPlex fundraising committee have reunited for that effort, they noted, and tickets are now on sale.
On the dual Citizen of the Year honours, Gabruch told reporters it was "quite humbling" and says it was special to "share this with Rob because of the things we've done together and the accomplishments we've been able to do within the community."
As for their partnership in the various community endeavours they have been involved with, Gabruch credited Rongve for bringing creativity and enthusiasm to the dynamic, as well as his ability "to get things done."
Rongve, on the other hand, credited Gabruch for being a steady hand and keeping them grounded.
In his speech, Rongve spoke of the notion of how by giving back to the community they have received far more in return - a concept he explained some more to reporters afterwards.
"Both of us would agree that whatever we've given over the years of our time, our business and sponsorships - what we get back, it's magnified 10 times." He said they gained by meeting people or seeing the work they do come to fruition. One example he pointed to in his speech was meeting Rick Mercer and having him over at his house when Mercer was in the city headlining a major event in support of the Battlefords and District Community Foundation in 2009.
"I think people question that's reality or not, that you do get back more than what you give. We can confirm that you do. It just happens all the time. And I think people should try it out. If you haven't tried it, try it, and you'll see what we mean."
