We all know someone who we feel has gone above and beyond when it comes to their community involvement. Someone who has helped others with no fanfare or recognition wanted. We all know someone who we refer to as an unsung hero.
Well now is the time to let others know about yours, and others, community hero. The Ladysmith Celebrations Society is looking for nominations for their annual Citizen of the Year award. Every year, during Ladysmith Days, a committee from the Celebrations Society has picked who they feel is this year’s unsung hero and they present that honour in person at the town’s summer party.
“As part of our groups encouraging volunteerism, we take nominations for townsfolks who have taken the extra step," said Brian Bancroft, Celebrations Society vice-chair. "That person is picked by a committee of ours, and it can also be an organization, and we try and give them their moment in the sun.
“We have a nomination site, on our Celebrations website and we’re going to be sitting down around the middle of July to go through the list," he said. "We have some but we know of others that could, or should, be nominated, so we’re hoping that folks will go to www.ladysmithdays.com and submit their person or organization who has done so much for the betterment of the community.”
You don't have to write an essay to nominate someone.
“It’s not a lot," Bancroft said. "Just a couple of sentences about why this particular person is being nominated. In the opinion of the nominator just what that person has done. It’s meant to be simple, it sure doesn’t have to be perfect. Ttell us, in a very short story, how this person has spent time volunteering, how they have assisted others or what they’ve done for their organization so it can help the community. The work has to be outside that person's regular occupation and they can’t be paid for what their volunteering has done.
"When we get to our deadline then our committee will look at all submissions and if need be we will go back to the nominator, or others, to get more background. We’ll work hard to find the right person, or organization, that has helped to make Ladysmith our home. Quite often we find it’s someone who is not visibly seen, they work behind the scenes or they’re a coach that goes extra for youth that need that extra boost up. Volunteers are important and we want to make sure we can say thank you.”
The award is going to be presented on the Sunday evening, during Ladysmith Days right before the final entertainment and fireworks. This year Ladysmith Days is Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3 and 4.
“Saturday this year is going to be more involved," Bancroft said. "Of course the Kinsmen are doing the soap box derby down First Avenue, and we’re going to have skateboarding demonstrations and the Downtown Business Association will be hosting a beer garden, so it will be a great day. We are also bringing back the wrestling on Saturday evening, and that will be at the Transfer Beach Amphitheatre, with the folks from Bayview Brewing hosting a beer garden down there too.
“Sunday, at Transfer Beach, will be a beautiful day. We have lots of entertainment and some of it quite different,” Bancroft said. “We will have most of the usual fare, but also this year there will be calypso music, flamenco dancing along with huge bouncy castles and toys. The Ladysmith District Credit Union has stepped forward, again, and are providing plenty for the kids and as they always do they are sponsoring the huge fireworks display at the very end of Ladysmith Days on Sunday evening. The folks from Saltair Marine Services are providing their barge and crew to be the platform for the fireworks. If we can’t let them off from the water, due to fire restrictions, we wouldn’t be able to have the fireworks so Saltair Marine is a life saver for us.”
The Celebrations committee is still working on finalizing various concessions and entertainment to round out the weekend so there will be more information coming as it gets closer to the B.C. Day long weekend.
