Contributions of Seniors Recognized through Awards Program
Each year the Provincial Government recognizes the significant contributions seniors and older adults make to their communities and the province. This year, eight deserving individuals throughout Newfoundland and Labrador are being presented with the 2012 Seniors of Distinction Award.
“This awards program celebrates the achievements and diversity of older persons throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and gives us the opportunity to see the significant impacts they have made on our province,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services and Minister Responsible for Aging and Seniors. “June is Seniors Month, a month in which our government acknowledges the contribution of seniors in our province. Each of this year’s honourees continues to share their skills and abilities to improve the lives of others and their participation and dedication has enriched their communities and Newfoundland and Labrador.”
To be considered for a Seniors of Distinction Award, a senior must be nominated by an individual or group, be 50 years of age or older and be a current or past resident of Newfoundland and Labrador. Individuals are considered for both voluntary and paid work. Nominations from the previous year are also reviewed again upon the request of a nominee.
This year’s award winners truly represent the ideals and qualities that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are known and respected for throughout the country and world. A biography of each of this year’s recipients can be found in the backgrounder below. The recipients of the 2012 Seniors of Distinction award are:
“Our government is committed to developing an age-friendly province,” said Minister Sullivan. “We will continue to promote the value and worth of older persons in our province through initiatives such as the Seniors of Distinction Awards. The Provincial Government also encourages the health and well-being of older persons through a number of other programs including the Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador Grants Program and the Healthy Aging Seniors Wellness Grants Program.”
The Seniors of Distinction Awards Program was launched in 2009 as an initiative of the Provincial Healthy Aging Policy Framework. The framework aims to recognize older persons, celebrate diversity, support communities, encourage health and financial well-being, and support employment, education and research.
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Media contact:
Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 699-6524
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Recipients of the 2012 Seniors of Distinction Awards
Ted A. Blanchard
Ted Blanchard was born in Gilliams in the Bay of Islands. As a teenager he
worked for Bowaters in Corner Brook before training to be a teacher, and
teaching for two years in a sole-charge school in Trinity East. Mr.
Blanchard and his family eventually settled in St. John’s. The majority of
Mr. Blanchard’s career was spent working within the Provincial Government,
primarily in the field of labour relations and conciliation. Mr. Blanchard
is known as a strong leader and in 1988 he entered provincial politics as
the Member for the Bay of Islands District and during his political career
served as the Minister of Labour. Retirement gave Mr. Blanchard time to
focus on his hobbies and interests. As an accomplished fiddle player, he has
received numerous accolades for his musical talent. He has indulged his
passion for rowing through his involvement in the Royal St. John’s Regatta
as a committee member, coach, coxswain and rowing participant.
Fred Budgell
Fred Budgell is a lifelong resident of the Town of Norris Arm. He has been
an avid volunteer in many aspects of community development including
education, sports, scholarships, heritage, and the Lion’s Club. Mr. Budgell
has received the Melvin Jones Award from Lion’s Club International and the
Governor General’s Canadian Caring Award. He regularly volunteers his time
to help people who need assistance completing income tax returns or
application forms. Over the years he has held various executive positions on
denominational and nondenominational school boards. He has provided 50 years
of volunteer service for the improvement of the education system in Norris
Arm. Mr. Budgell is very active with the Kids Eat Smart Program and the
Playground Committee, the Lewisporte Area Development Association and for
the past three years served as Small Town Director with the Exploit’s Valley
Economic Development Association. Mr. Budgell served as the Mayor of Norris
Arm for 15 years having completed his last mayoral term in September 2009.
Boyd Cohen
Boyd Cohen is considered to be an exemplary resident of Grand Falls-Windsor.
The Cohen Family has been active in the business community since Mr. Cohen’s
grandfather, Simon, emigrated from England and established a general store
at Grand Falls Station (which later became the Town of Windsor) in 1919. In
1953, Boyd Cohen built his first furniture store which he soon expanded, and
further business growth ensued as he went on to build additional stores. In
1985, when he sold his business, there were 13 furniture stores
province-wide and preparations were underway to open another three. Mr.
Cohen was the driving force behind the launch of Central Cable Systems in
Grand Falls-Windsor and various real estate operations. He has served as
president of service clubs including the Lion’s Club and Rotary Club, and
was a founding member of the Grand Falls-Windsor Chamber of Commerce. He was
also president of the local Board of Trade that became the Grand
Falls-Windsor Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Cohen’s commitment to the business
community has garnered him several awards including induction into the Town
of Grand Falls-Windsor’s Business Hall of Fame and the Junior Achievement
Provincial Hall of Fame.
Gertrude Curtis
Gertrude Curtis (known to her friends as Mrs. Gertie) was born in Long
Beach. Mother to 11 children when she lost her husband, Mrs. Curtis had sole
responsibility for the nine children who were still living at home, the
youngest of whom was only four years old. As a cancer survivor, Mrs. Curtis
is an inspiration. Through the years she has been active on the Weight
Watchers Committee, worked in the elementary school cafeteria, volunteered
at teenage dances and for approximately 30 years, Mrs. Curtis has annually
donated a graduation fruitcake to the community high school. Mrs. Curtis is
a member of the New Horizons Seniors Club and a long-time member of the
Trepassey Women’s Institute, holding secretary and treasurer positions. Mrs.
Curtis is devoted to her church. As the Sacristan she prepares for all
services and is an enthusiastic Eucharistic Minister. For 20 years Mrs.
Curtis has been responsible for money raised through the parish bar/canteen,
she was a housekeeper/cook at Presentation Convent. For her many years of
volunteer work in the parish she was named Citizen of the Year in 2001.
James J. Farrell
Originally from Marystown, James Farrell moved to Wabush in 1964 to begin a
lengthy career with Wabush Mines. He has been an active participant in the
Knights of Columbus and the Masonic Lodge. Upon his retirement Mr. Farrell’s
volunteer activities really began. In 1993 he was elected to the Wabush town
council and appointed Deputy Mayor. From 1997 to 2009 he served as the Mayor
of Wabush but in 2009, feeling it was time for a new generation to fill the
mayoral chair, he voluntarily stepped aside; however, he was elected as a
councillor and has served on the town council continuously since 1993. Mr.
Farrell has been instrumental in spearheading many municipal achievements
including, the new regional hospital scheduled to open in 2014, development
of a new housing tract with 130 units, and the conversion of older
apartments into a 66-unit condominium complex. Mr. Farrell has been active
in a number of municipally related organizations such as the Combined
Councils of Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador Municipal Employee Benefits
Incorporated and the Labrador Council of the Rural Secretariat. With a long
history of helping those in need, Mr. Farrell's signature voluntary
achievement, thus far, is as a fundraiser for the Children’s Wish Foundation
in western Labrador. In 2011 the Wish Maker’s Walk for Wishes raised
$205,000 – with Mr. Farrell raising one-third of that total amount. In just
two years Mr. Farrell’s efforts have granted wishes to 10 deserving
children.
Agnes Penney
Agnes Penney was born and raised in the Codroy Valley area. In 1970 Mrs.
Penney began what turned out to be 40 years of volunteer service with the
community of Irishtown (now know as Town of Irishtown-Summerside) and served
on the Irishtown council as vice-chairperson. Mrs. Penney served for 29
years with the municipal council as mayor for a number of years, as well as
a councillor. Mrs. Penney has served on the Irishtown Recreation Committee
in various capacities including playing an instrumental role in securing
grants for the community park and swimming pool. Mrs. Penney has been a
dedicated member of the Hughes Brook-Irishtown-Summerside Fire Department as
a firette and has held positions of secretary and vice-president. Mrs.
Penney’s other activities include the St. Brendan’s Roman Catholic Church,
Irishtown Seniors Club, Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Mental Health
Association. A compassionate woman, Mrs. Penney and her husband brought two
children with physical and cognitive challenges into their home. Mrs. Penney
continued this selfless act as she provided care for her husband, who had
been living with Parkinson’s disease for 17 years, until his passing.
Robert D. Snook
Robert Snook is a much respected resident of Sunnyside. He has served on the
Eastern Regional Health and Community Services Board and was active in the
regionalization of the health boards. Since 1969 he has been a church lay
reader and sat on his parish council. Active in municipal politics, Mr.
Snook has served three terms on the Sunnyside Town Council and as Mayor
since 2009. There have been many achievements during his time on council
including, having the town named as Top Fundraiser (for towns with a
population of less than 500) in the Mayors March for Heart and Stroke;
helping negotiate a grant in lieu of taxes with ExxonMobil for the Hebron
construction project in Bull Arm; and working to secure Provincial
Government funding for the construction of an overpass on the Trans Canada
Highway for safer access. As a founding member of the Come By Chance Oil
Refinery Liaison Committee, Mr. Snook works to ensure the oil refinery
remains compliant in the reduction of emissions. He has served on the
Selection Committee for Memorial University’s School of Medicine since 2005
to ensure that the needs of rural Newfoundland and Labrador are heard. Other
community activities include the Truce Sound Committee; organizing the 400th
Anniversary of John Guy’s meeting with the Beothuk, which will be celebrated
in August of this year.
Augustine Stamp
Augustine Stamp is considered to be a community cornerstone in St. Vincent's
and he has enjoyed a lifetime of dedicated, continuous volunteer service.
Mr. Stamp is the man often behind the scenes handling the many little
details to ensure that the bigger task is accomplished. He oversees the
running of parish/town functions, all with a smile and a positive attitude.
As a musician, dancer and comedian, Mr. Stamp is a regular performer at
local concerts where he makes his accordion "sing.” He received a 20-year
service award from the Department of Highways and in 1988-89 he received the
Melvin Jones Award - the highest award offered by the Lions Club-for
humanitarian service. Other community/committee involvement includes, 25
years of service on the Placentia St. Mary’s School Board, six years as
President of the St. Vincent’s Lions Club, President of the Regatta
Committee, Mayor of the St. Vincent’s Town Council for seven years, member
of the Southern Avalon Development Association, and is a very active in his
parish as Eucharistic Minister, Communion Minister to the sick and lay
reader at mass for the past 25 years.
2012 06 29 11:00 a.m.