Volunteer Appreciation Week
KING CITY VOLUNTEER NIGHT




By JORDAN H. GREEN
 
  They cheered, they clapped, they even hugged, at 
King's annual volunteer recognition awards last 
Tuesday night.
  Smiles were all around the Schomberg Community 
Agricultural Arena, as the certificates, pins and pens 
were handed out to some of the town's longest and 
most active volunteers.
  "What's amazing, many of the people we had as 
volunteers 10 years ago are still volunteers, said 
mayor Margaret Black.
  King's longest running councillor, Ward five's 
James Morning who's been on council for 17 years, 
remembered back all those years.
  "Seventeen years ago we had a small crowd for 
volunteer night, the population of the township has 
increased and so have the volunteers and that's great, 
I thank you all," he said.
  The volunteers that help out with everything from 
the arenas and recreation centres, to the volunteer 
fire fighters and ambulance services, to the seniors 
centres and boy and girl scouts, were praised for 
their hard working efforts.
  Councillors read off lists of the various committees, 
boards and groups, asking the volunteers to rise and 
take a bow, as the crowd of about 175 people ap-
plauded their volunteerism.
  "In Canada, about six-million people donate over a 
billion hours of their time and that attributes to over 
$13 billion dollars," said provincial minister of 
economic trade and tourism Al Palladini. "I'm very 
proud of the people who have taken the time, they 
can't be thanked enough."
  "Volunteerism is the root of this township, please 
keep it up," said councillor Linda Pabst of Ward three.
  Certificates were handed out to long-time volunteers 
Bob and Dorothy Gillies, Ted Munroe, Gerry Lindgren 
and Marjory Black.
  Ten students received pins, honoring their youthful 
start to volunteering.
  Tom Cober, Fred Wegner and Monty Larkin were 
given pens for their dedicated efforts.
   "Volunteers breath life into your neighborhoods and 
that in turn shapes the character, the spirit and the 
substance of your township," said York Region's 
chair Bill Fisch, who gave the keynote address. 
"York Region has become the eighth largest 
municipality in this country. And it's not 
because we tricked people into coming here. 
The new citizens actively sought out our York 
Region lifestyle and the King Township lifestyle. 
We offer something few other places in Southern 
Ontario have in abundance, we have people like 
you who make our communities work."
  The evening concluded with the announcement 
of King's Citizen of the Year, Ken Hodgson, who 
wasn't even aware he'd been nominated.
  "I just got a phone call about 10 minutes ago, 
telling me I'd better get over here," said Hodgson. 
"I never expected this, it's all a surprise to me. 
I feel great."
  The life-long resident of the town, now living in 
Schomberg, has been involved in the Lions, and 
has been on Nobelton's Hall Board for over
20 years.