CARROT RIVER 鈥� A volunteer that鈥檚 active in local causes like KidSport and a program that provides food for students in need has been selected as Carrot River鈥檚 citizen of the year.
Bridget Holmen was presented with the award at the Carrot River Board of Trade鈥檚 Business Excellence Awards Gala held April 10. She said she was surprised to win the award.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 actually think I would ever be citizen of the year, or even be nominated as citizen of the Year,鈥� Holmen said.
Born and raised in Calgary, Holmen moved to Carrot River in 2001. She works as a substitute educational assistant.
She credited the award to how many hours she put into committees in the community, such as Blessings and KidSport. Blessings is a program where weekly food bags and school supplies are provided for students in the community, as well as school photos, on an application basis.
鈥淩ecently I fundraised for a family that has little boy that has cancer. I sold bracelets for them.鈥�
Her fundraising started when she was around 14, and decided to start volunteering for the Special Olympics.
聽鈥淚鈥檝e always had volunteering in my blood ever since I was little,鈥� Holmen said. 鈥淚 just always felt I get such a reward myself for volunteering and that鈥檚 why.
鈥淭he reward is seeing how it helps people.鈥�
She doesn鈥檛 know what inspired her to start volunteering that first time, but hopes it is passed on to her 11 year old son.
鈥淐arrot River, I think, really does run on volunteerism. It鈥檚 such a strong community for volunteering. There are always people willing to step up and get things done.鈥�
Bob Gagn茅, Carrot River鈥檚 mayor, presented the award. He said it was well deserved.
鈥淪he鈥檚 been involved in so many different organizations in the community, like she says, she鈥檚 in the background all the time and we don鈥檛 see her in the foreground,鈥� Gagn茅 said.
Other awards were also presented at the gala, which saw more than 150 attend:
- Carrot River Implements was presented the 2018 rural roots award
- Randie Kapeller of Carrot River Co-op was presented the 2018 student employee of the year
- Peggy Friske of the Carrot River Co-op was presented the 2018 employee of the year
- Perrin Electric was presented the 2018 business of the year
- The 2018 KCRA Outback Rodeo was presented the 2018 community event of the year.
The rodeo committee used the opportunity to announce the date of the next year鈥檚 rodeo, which will take place on Aug. 17 to 19.
