Friday, May 13, 2022
For Immediate Release
Music, dance, and celebration filled the theatre at the Cameco Capitol Arts Centre on Thursday, May 12, 2022, for the return of the in-person Port Hope Civic Awards ceremony, an event to recognize the many civic-minded volunteers in the community who, over the last year, have dedicated their time and talents to make a difference in the Municipality.
“It feels great to be back together – in-person – for the 34th annual Civic Awards,” noted Les Andrews, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope. “This program has become a highlight on our calendar, providing much deserved recognition to community members who are passionately making a difference. Our award categories give us a platform to showcase broad elements that make up our local culture. It’s a meaningful way to acknowledge the good work being done throughout the Municipality, and without their nominations, there would be no Civic Awards.”
The Civic Awards is a nomination-based program that celebrates community members for their exceptional contributions and/or achievements, bringing honour and enrichment to the Municipality of Port Hope. Nominee categories include Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Athletics, Community Service, Environment, Inspiration, Philanthropy and the Outstanding Youth and Outstanding Citizen Awards. Not every category is awarded each year.
This year’s Outstanding Youth Award was presented to Kate Mulder, a grade 12 Port Hope High School student who has logged more than 160 hours serving her community, while working a part-time job and starting her own business.
Her service started when she was young making sleeping mats out of milk bags with her grandmother to ship to children in need. She has also volunteered for the Port Hope Santa Claus Parade, Community Cancer Fundraisers, as a horse groomer, cleaned up a river and worked to restock it with fish, and offered her service to shovel snow. During the pandemic, she worked alongside her mother shopping for groceries and preparing large batches of meals for a local senior who needed help and support.
In school, she is a proud member of the girls' volleyball team, where she has been named Most Valuable Player three times. She has been a member of the school Advisory Council since grade 10, at first as Athletics Minister, promoting and supporting the school's athletic programs and mostly recently as the Social Justice Minister, focusing her attention on initiatives that create opportunities for all students. We congratulate Miss Mulder on her outstanding achievements.
There was no nominee for the Outstanding Citizen category this year, and instead the two Outstanding Citizens from 2019 and 2020 were once again recognized, this time in front of a live audience.
Tribute was also paid to the local front-line workers who kept our community running, kept us fed, safe, and supported. Gas station attendants, grocery store workers, health care professionals, farmers and food producers, postal workers, plow operators and construction and road crews, water and wastewater operators, volunteers who organized and worked at vaccine clinics - the list goes on. Frontline workers were also our Outstanding Citizens last year.
The Civic Awards Advisory Committee, a committee of Council, meets regularly throughout the year to coordinate the recognition program and host the annual award ceremony on behalf of Council. The Committee is comprised of the following members: Keri-Lee Kroeger (Chair), David Kroeger, Sue Niles, Sandra Ging, Alex Byers, Councillor Wendy Meadows, Recording Secretary Rebecca Persaud, Staff Representative Jeannie Maidens.
More information about the Civic Awards program and the full recipient list can be found on the Civic Awards web page.
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