Lieutenant-Governor presents 
Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer Medals in Clarenville

Ten dedicated volunteers were honoured today at a formal ceremony held at the St. Jude Hotel in Clarenville. His Honour, the Honourable A. M. House, Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, presented the Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer Medal on behalf of the province.

David Brenton, Herb Brett, George Clements, Ralph Cooper, Petrinella (Nella) Hodder, Joan Kane, Marguerite Martin, Violet Parsons, Alvina Smith and Jim Tessier have together contributed more than 330 years as volunteers. Their long-term dedication has positively affected health, education, sports, the arts and community and economic development.

In a statement to the House of Assembly earlier this week, Premier Roger Grimes applauded the accomplishments of the province's volunteers and announced the series of ceremonies throughout the province at which the Volunteer Medal will be presented.

"The people of our province are known throughout Canada and, indeed, the world, for their incredible generosity and caring spirit," said Premier Grimes. " This year provides a wonderful opportunity to award the Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer Medal and recognize extraordinary volunteers for their invaluable contributions to our communities and to our province as a whole."

Hundreds of nominations were submitted by individuals and organizations throughout the province, between July and September 30, highlighting the extensive volunteer network operating in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

An independent selection committee set the award and nomination criteria, reviewed the submissions and selected candidates. His Honour, the Honourable A. M. House, Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, will present the Volunteer Medal to 96 exceptional volunteers in special ceremonies to be held at various locations across the province.

Premier Grimes said that the men and women receiving these medals "have each, over the long-term, had profound and wide-reaching impacts on the lives of others, on their communities and on us all.... these people demonstrate, in the most remarkable way, the very practical foundation of volunteerism: the value of one and the power of many." 

Media contact: Carl Cooper, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3564. 

Background Information

David Brenton, Marystown
David Brenton has been a volunteer for 30 years at the local, regional, provincial and national levels. He has served as a town councillor, at all levels of the Kinsmen Club and was a founding board member of the local youth club. His primary areas of service have been in sports, particularly basketball and softball, and recreation. He is a member of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador and the high school athletic federation. 

Herb Brett, Arnold's Cove
Herb Brett has been volunteering for more than 40 years. He has served in the area of health care, but his primary involvement has been in municipal politics and with regional development boards. He is currently deputy mayor of his community and president of the Discovery Regional Development Board.

George Clements, Bonavista
George Clements has been volunteering for over 40 years with a variety of organizations. He has been an executive member of various health committees for 26 years, currently he is a member of his local health care board and vice-chair of the Peninsulas Health Care Board. He was founding chair of the Chamber of Commerce and was also chair of Vista �97.

Ralph Cooper, Port Rexton
Ralph Cooper has been volunteering for more than 20 years. He has served his community as a member of the local fire department and has been involved with his church and the Church Lads Brigade.

Petrinella (Nella) Hodder, St. Lawrence
Nella Hodder has been volunteering for more than half a century. She is a member of the local Palliative Care Committee and the U.S. Memorial Health Care Centre Auxiliary. She has been active with youth groups, such as the Girl Guides and 4-H, in her church, and in planning community events. She was nominated by the Town of St. Lawrence.

Joan Kane, Trinity
Joan Kane has been a volunteer for 34 years. She has been active in various local, regional and provincial development boards and, since the mid-1980s, has been chair of the Bonavista Peninsula and Surrounding Area Community Futures Business Development Centre. She is also involved in municipal politics, with the Crime Prevention Association and as director of the Eastern Region T'Railway Council.

Marguerite Martin, Burin
Marguerite Martin has been volunteering for over 40 years. She has served as treasurer of the Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary and has knit for the Red Cross since WWII. She is active within her church and women's association, has served on the local library board and as president of the senior citizen's club.

Violet Parsons, Bloomfield
Violet Parsons has been a volunteer for more than three decades. She served as first female district president of the Lions Club. She has been active in the figure skating club, the Heritage Foundation for Terra Nova National Park, Allied Youth and the Port Blandford-Winterbrook Development Association. She has also served on the executive of local, regional and provincial school boards.

Alvina Smith, Chance Cove
Alvina Smith has been volunteering for 25 years. She has served the Lions Club and has worked with charities including the Janeway Telethon, the Lung Association and the Cancer Society. She was a councillor for eight years and a Girl Guide leader for 13 years. She is active within her church, parish council and the local women's association.

Jim Tessier, Grand Bank
Jim Tessier has been volunteering for 32 years. He is involved with the Lions Club, spending two terms as president. He has assisted the Red Cross since 1981, and was chair of the local Matthew Committee. He is a member of the Burin Peninsula Health Care Foundation, as well as serving on the Grand Bank Tourism committee and assisting with the Grand Bank Summer Festival. He was nominated by the Town of Grand Bank.

2001 11 21                            1:00 p.m.