Do you know an absolutely spectacular person? Someone who has dedicated themselves to their community in a whole gamut of ways?Then the Humboldt Journal wants to hear from you.Nominations for the Humboldt and District 2013 Citizen of the Year and 2013 Junior Citizen of the Year will open on November 1.Once again this year, the Humboldt Journal will be taking in the nominations for the Citizens of the Year awards, and in a committee made up of Journal staff members, past Citizens of the Year, members of JCI Humboldt and some other selected community members, will choose both the Citizen and Junior Citizen of the Year.The winners will be announced in the first edition of the Journal in 2013. The Humboldt Journal took over the Citizen of the Year awards in early 2011 from the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce. Taking over these awards fits well with the newspaper, which turned 108 this week, noted Brent Fitzpatrick, publisher of both the Humboldt Journal and the East Central Trader. "The Humboldt Journal is the newspaper of record in Humboldt. It seems to fit well for us that we can mark the accomplishments of individuals in our community through these awards," he stated. "Every person who lives and works in Humboldt plays an important role in making it a great place to be. Some go above and beyond and it behooves us to acknowledge this effort and thank them for making our home just that much better," Fitzpatrick noted. The criteria for the awards is simple. The Humboldt and District Citizen of the Year is "an adult who, through volunteer efforts, has enhanced the lifestyle of the residents of Humboldt and Area."Past winners include Rev. Alvin Hingley in 2011 and Joe Dutchak in 2012. The Junior Citizen of the Year award is meant to mark the significant contributions to the community by a youth or young adult aged 30 or under. The age is something that has changed since the Journal took over these awards - previously, it was limited to young people 18 and under, but has been opened up to include a wider range of young people. Past winners include Kaytlin Hantke (2011) and Paige Crozon (2012).JCI Humboldt is excited to once again be on board to help choose Humboldt's Junior Citizen of the Year, and they are encouraging people to recognize outstanding young people by putting their name in for this award. "To recognize young people that are doing so much good for the community motivates them to keep doing these things," noted Krista Grimson, co-president of JCI Humboldt. Nomination forms for the Citizen of the Year Awards will be found in the Humboldt Journal every week starting November 1, at the Humboldt Journal office, City Hall or the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce office. They will also be available online at www.humboldtjournal.ca, www.cityofhumboldt.ca and www.humboldtchamber.ca.Completed forms can be dropped off at the Humboldt Journal office, mailed to Box 970, Humboldt, SK, S0K 2A0 or faxed to 682-3322.Nominations will close December 3.
