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What makes a Citizen of the Century?

Mayor Jangula offers some guidelines
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Mayor Jangula walks up Fifth St.

Scott Stanfield

Record Staff

The public has a little more than a month to submit nominations for the Citizens of the Century Awards that are part of the Courtenay centennial celebrations.

The awards will honour volunteers — past or present — for outstanding contributions to the city since it was incorporated as a municipality in 1915.

"If I were judging, I would be looking at somebody who has committed their life to doing things for their community," Mayor Larry Jangula said. "Somebody who has been involved in more than one activity that's benefitted other people."

There are no shortage of candidates. The late Skip Blain, for one, was "involved in absolutely everything that happened," Jangula said. "He just constantly did things in the community."

Blaine volunteered as a tutor, a Canada Day parade marshal and as a greeter at the airport. He also served with the Knights of Columbus, among others, and was a freeman of the city.

Other worthy candidates would be conservationist Ruth Masters, and former fire chief Lawrence Burns, whom Jangula jokes has "done more funerals than most of the ministers in this town."

The late Ron Bannerman — an educator who grew up in Cumberland — and Sid Williams — after whom the theatre at Fifth and Cliffe is named — are other names that come to mind.

"Those are the kind of people, in my opinion, who have given everything for the community," Jangula said. "We have lots of amazing people."

The deadline to nominate is March 31.

To be eligible, nominees must have volunteered for a number of years to benefit citizens, not their own personal or family endeavours.

Nomination categories include arts, athletics, business, churches, clubs, culture, educational groups, fraternal organizations, history, service clubs, sports teams, youth groups, health, social services and environment.

Nominations can be submitted at bit.ly/1y0dblJ.

reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com