The names of three outstanding area citizens have been submitted for the Barriere Citizen of the Year 2009 Award. This week pre-selected area groups and organizations will be casting their votes, and the winner will be announced in our Oct. 19 issue.

Christine (Tina) Donald

Kenna Williams writes, “My nomination for citizen of the year is Christine (Tina) Donald.

“Tina has recently been elected on the Simpcw First Nation Council for this term; also serving on Council in the past. She also holds a full time job here as the Fisheries/ Contracts Coordinator. Tina has worked for the Simpcw First Nation Band pretty much since high school, and has held many positions here in the past.

“She devotes her spare time to the youth; setting up various programs with the Elementary and High schools in the surrounding areas of Barriere, Clearwater and Chu Chua. She has set up such programs as Stream Keepers and Raft River to name a few.

“Tina is very enthusiastic about her work and it certainly flows through the kids. She attends all the youth conferences and is heavily involved in the youth sporting events.

“She also serves on many of the surrounding area committees and boards. Tina is a first responder for the Simpcw Community and a volunteer fireperson with the Chu Chua Volunteer Fire Department. This is a 24 hour a day, seven days a week commitment; as you never know when you are needed, and she has always been there without any concern for herself.

“Tina also devotes her time to the Elders of the Chu Chua community.

“In closing I have a lot of respect for Tina Donald as she is an amazing woman and has accomplished a lot for the community youth, as they are our future.”

Wendy McDermott

Donna Kibble writes on her nomination ballott, “It is my pleasure to nominate Wendy McDermott for Barriere’s Citizen of the Year. Wendy has been involved with the North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo (NTFFRA)for many years. Over these years she has taken on the jobs of decorating, information booth and the Queen Pageant.

“Of course she has accomplished many other things to numerous to mention, including helping with coaching the girls volleyball team at Barriere Secondary School.

“The past few years Wendy has been devoted to the NTFFRA Queen Pageant. She has encouraged local girls to participate in the pageant, and has very successfully created a pageant that continues to be fun, educational, and a great skill builder for the participants.

“Wendy works hard at whatever jobs she takes on, and does not give up until she is satisfied things are completed to her standards.

“Wendy is proud of her family, and is involved in whatever they are, helping in anyway she can. She is always available to her friends, offering her support, either physically or emotionally. Wendy sets a good example for other volunteers in Barriere.”

Virginia Graham Smith

“Going beyond the call of duty is what describes Virginia Smith when it comes to her work for the community of Barriere”, writes Otto and Elli Kohnert, “We, wish to nominate her for Citizen of the Year 2009 because we believe she has earned this recognition; especially since she was elected to serve as a councilor after the District of Barriere was formed in November 2007.”

Virginia sits on several committees for the District of Barriere, but that does not mean she only attends meetings; hands on work is her mode of involvement in anything she feels needs to be done.

“When the District took over the landscaping at the entrance to Barriere, Virginia, with other volunteers, was out there spreading the gravel and planting the geraniums into the planters that she made sure were in the right places as they were brought in. Virginia did not assume that all would be okay; she was there to participate for herself.”

“The development of Barriere Parks are one of Virginia’s great passions, she perceives them as being of value to all area residents. Beyond that, she believes that they present a welcoming atmosphere to visitors who come here. Over the past two years Barriere’s ball parks have been her special project. This is the place where the town welcomes ball teams that take part in tournaments and come from many parts of the province. With this in mind she became a strong motivator for bringing improvements to these parks, and did not shy away from getting her husband Ron involved in the venture as well.”

“It is often difficult to catch Virginia at home, because she is either working on a project, is at a meeting, is away at a convention or working as a fully qualified volunteer for ESS (Emergency Social Services) Barriere group. When this year’s wildfires stretched Kamloops Emergency Services to the limit, Virginia joined a group of Barriere volunteers to work at the registration centers. She spent very long hours there while still keeping up with ‘business’ at home.”

“Virginia Smith gives of her time, her training through past work experience, and most of all her passion and dedication to be of service to her community without hesitation and with great generosity; we sincerely hope that she will be ‘Citizen Of The Year 2009.”

The Barriere Citizen of the Year Award is sponsored by the North Thompson Star/Journal