Cold Lake and District FCSS recognize community volunteers

Andrea Woods, middle, receives the Environment Protector on behalf of LICA during the Cold Lake and District FCSS Volunteer Appreciation Awards on Sunday at the Lakeland Inn.

The Cold Lake and District FCSS recognized their community volunteers Sunday.

The Volunteer Appreciation Awards were held at the Lakeland Inn Sunday afternoon and were accompanied by a musical performance by Jonah Langlois, 15-year-old songwriter born in Cold Lake.

The awards has run for over five years and is always scheduled during National Volunteer Week, which falls from Apr. 7-13.

The awards were up for open nomination, community-wide to celebrate all volunteers in Cold Lake and District.

Leanne Draper, volunteer services, said: “I would like to thank the community for their support for this event, for nominating volunteers and for coming to the event and always making it such a great well-attended, fun, community celebration.”

The full list of Volunteer Award Winners:

1. Rising Star Youth Award – Maria Thiel
2. Newbie of the Year – Takeo Nishimura
3. Behind the Scenes – Mary Ann Latty
4. Coach of the Year – Chris Thomas
5. Environment Protector – LICA
6. Individual Community Impact – Ray Gillis
7. Group Community impact – Cold Lake Youth Council
8. Cold Lake and District Volunteer Achievement Award – Todd Munday

Head coach of the Cold Lake Royals football team and CLHS teacher, Kelly Johnson, said he was pleased the school was well-represented with Thiel’s selection, along with students involved with the Cold Lake Youth Council and Chris Thomas, who was part of the Royals coaching staff.

“We are very proud of Sgt Chris Thomas for all his volunteering with Cold Lake Minor Football and the Royals Football program. He is always pushing our players to perform at their best and is a great role model for our teams,” said Johnson.