TISDALE 鈥� Two newly retired community volunteers and world travellers were selected as Tisdale鈥檚 citizen of the year.
Dwight and Bonnie Olson were presented with the award at the Tisdale and District Chamber of Commerce Imprints of Success Awards Gala held April 30.
The two had just retired from working at the Beeland Co-op on March 1.
Bonnie believes the job helped open up doors for them to engage with the community.
鈥淲e tended to develop a relationship with our customers as we were working, and besides that we continue with our tours,鈥� Bonnie said.
Every year the Olsons lead both a student tour and adult tour, taking community members somewhere in the world.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 something we鈥檙e both very passionate about,鈥� Bonnie said. 鈥淲e enjoy doing and we enjoy providing that opportunity for people to travel and share in that passion that we so enjoy ourselves.鈥�
The award was chosen based on an online public vote.
The two said they were surprised and honoured to receive the award. While they鈥檙e not sure why people voted for them, they have their suspicions.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 our personalities, outgoingness and care for people, and interest in people,鈥� Dwight said. 鈥淲e enjoy engagement with people. We鈥檙e very outgoing, that鈥檚 the way we are. We brought up kids to be that way, and that sort of thing.
He believes they received the outgoing nature and involvement with the community from their own parents.
聽鈥淚t鈥檚 our nature and the way we live to do things.鈥�
In the last year Dwight was involved in volunteering with the Telus Cup Western Regionals.
鈥淚t was a very rewarding experience, great community to work with... great committee to work with. I enjoyed it,鈥� Dwight said. 鈥淚t was very demanding at times but very rewarding.鈥�
He believes he enjoys volunteering at these events due to his previous job as director of recreation and parks for the Town of Tisdale. In this job he was tasked with planning of different events.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 how it all evolved.鈥�
In the past year Bonnie has been active with the Christ Lutheran Church.
Jeanette Lykken, president of the Tisdale and District Chamber of Commerce said she believes the community voted for the Olsons due to both their volunteering and their personalities.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e wonderful people, they鈥檙e always out there in the community, willing to talk to everybody,鈥� Lykken said. 鈥淎nd they鈥檝e been on so many committees that they have been around pretty much everyone in Tisdale.鈥�
At the gala, Raelene Franklin received Citizen鈥檚 Honour. The award is designed to recognize citizens and business leaders in the area who have positively impacted the community over an extended period of time.
Franklin, an active volunteer in the community, died in July of 2018.
鈥淩aelene鈥檚 contributions were over a great many years,鈥� Lykken said. 鈥淗er dedication through the Kinettes, the skate park, all of her school activities, just her community minded heart is the reason I think a lot of people voted for her.鈥�
Other award recipients at the gala were:
- Barron鈥檚 Funeral Chapel received Pioneer Business
- The Sweet Cup Gourmet Cakes and Coffee received Business of the Year
- Soil Tech Services Ltd. received Agricultural Business of the Year
- Community Falkon Theatre received Group of the Year
- Kalen Ukrainetz received Junior Citizen of the Year
- Brittany Bohachewski received Customer鈥檚 Choice of the Year
