Mark 'Shreddie' Savard is the latest to be recognized by the Apple Pie Society in Williams Lake.
The society formed earlier this year to highlight community volunteers and Savard is the fourth individual or group to receive a fresh-baked apple pie for his efforts.
Savard has dedicated decades to outdoor recreation in the Williams Lake area.
He has spent hundreds of hours developing mountain biking trails, worked with the city to make the Botanio bike park, has developed cross-country ski trails and more recently helped establish disc golf courses at Boitanio Park, Chimney Lake and Esler fields.
He received his pie, much to his surprise, after arriving at Boitanio Park for a walk with his partner Jacinta and their dog Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Members of the society were waiting there to present to him and tell him how much he means to the community.
Society member Kerry Cook told Savard he is an 'over-the-top' volunteer for Williams Lake and the region.
"You are a leader that leads by example, with perseverance and passion," she said. "Whether it was setting up a trail committee back in the city over 30 years ago or putting Williams Lake on the map for mountain biking as the Shangri-la of Mountain Biking it's largely a part of who you are."
Cook recalled seeing Savard, sometimes alone, digging with a shovel just to make things happen.
She thanked him on behalf of the society and all of Williams Lake and the region.
"You are truly a gift to Williams Lake," she said.
Savard said he was "shocked" about the recognition.
"Like Kerry said, I just do it, somebody has to do it," he said, shrugging.
Bette McLennan, another society member, provided a written outline of some of Savard's efforts.
He was the first certified ski patrol for snowboards at Mt. Timothy in the 1980s and today is a volunteer coach at Troll Resort.
He developed a local back country skiing culture for the Horsefly/Cariboo Mountains area through sharing his knowledge of the area and expertise in avalanche safety.
With the Boys and Girls Club, Savard helped develop a biking program and did field trips with youth into the South Chilcotin Mountains.
He provides bike rodeos wherever needed, especially out west, and has donated used bikes, repaired bikes for youth and taught riding expertise for youth to develop an interest in the activity.
Savard also helped make the climbing routes and a guide book for the Esler Climbing Walls and has helped organize the Likely Paddlefest over the years.
"In short, wherever there was interest in an outdoor activity, Mark was there behind the scenes, working with whoever to clear any obstacles to help the event go forward and always had 'boots on the ground' as he volunteered untold hours to develop the activity to its full potential," McLennan noted.
